When I finished work today, I got in my car to drive home and found my seatbelt was stuck. No matter how hard or softly I pulled, it wouldn’t budge. This was slightly alarming – I can’t drive the car without a seatbelt, and I need to drop it to the garage tomorrow for a check-up!
The more I dwelt on it, the more I panicked. And the more I panicked, the more desperately I pulled on that seatbelt. Still nothing.
I have to admit, in that moment, praying wasn’t the first thing on my mind. Instead, I called my parents. I explained I’d tried everything; fast and slow, key in the ignition, key out, locked and unlocked the car. Nothing worked.
My lovely dad reminded me that the seatbelt mechanism isn’t electronic, it’s simple, mechanical. Then he said something very him: “If in doubt, give it a clout!” I have to admit, it was quite satisfying to thump the wall of my car trying to knock the seatbelt loose! Even more satisfying: it worked. I had to be ever so gentle to reel just enough to fasten myself in and drive away, but it worked!
So what does this have to do with God?
Two things came to mind:
First, God’s provision often shows up in the people around us.
Although I didn’t consciously pray, the people I called were exactly the right ones. One calmed me down. The other explained and offered a solution. I could have sat in my frustration, or reached out to someone who made me feel worse. But I didn’t. Maybe that was an answer to an unconscious prayer. I’ve been trying to bring God into every part of my day, and maybe, just maybe, God met me in that phone call.
Second, I looked everywhere else before I looked at what was right in front of me.
I couldn’t see the seatbelt mechanism, so I fiddled with everything else: ignition, clutch, door, seat… all the visible bits. But the issue was just below the surface, and the solution was surprisingly simple. Isn’t that so often the way? We look everywhere but God when we feel stuck. We overcomplicate things. We try to fix things from the outside when what’s needed is a bit of honesty, a little courage, and a direct route to the root of the problem.
So today reminded me: don’t overlook the simple solution. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the people God’s placed in your life. And don’t forget, even a small clout can be holy if it helps you move forward.
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