In a recent episode, I shared how the Lord was reminding me of the importance of giving Him thanks in everything and for everything, through His providential timing of the failure of the starter in my car. That was on a Saturday. Looking back, it is now obvious to me that God considers this a critical principle for kingdom living, because He was not finished with my instruction on this topic. Here is “the rest of the story.”
The following Wednesday afternoon, when I started my car to leave work, I noticed that the idle was a little erratic but didn’t really think much about it. My mind was thinking ahead to my destination – Huntsville Hospital, to visit my dear mother-in-law (who had suffered a stroke). Along the way, as I stopped at traffic lights, I noticed the erratic idle getting worse. The car was now going through a repetitive cycle of very high engine RPM followed by returning to normal. Just before I got to the hospital, the Check Engine light came on. The surging idle was getting so bad that I had to shift the car into neutral at stop lights, for fear that the brakes would not keep me still and I would run into the car in front of me.
“God, are you kidding me? I don’t have time for another car repair!” I proceeded to the parking garage, and went to my mother-in-law’s room to visit with her, my father-in-law, and my wife. Once in the room, I could tell that my wife needed some comfort. And God prompted me in my spirit to trust Him with the car, so I stayed there longer than planned.
Once home, I plugged in the engine analyzer that one of my children had recently given me and read the code – a problem with the MAP sensor. I opened the hood and did a quick visual scan, to make sure that I had hooked everything back up properly from my previous weekend repair work. Everything seemed in order. I quickly went inside and jumped on the internet, searching for a replacement MAP sensor. I found one at a parts store across town – but the store would close before I could get there.
Then I remembered the principle that my wife had been so instrumental in teaching me -- to stop and thank God for this situation. “O God, I thank You for this problem with my car. I thank You that it is too late to get the part I need tonight. I thank You that it is late and I am tired. You are teaching me to give thanks for everything and in everything, so I am. You do all things well. You are all powerful, so you can do anything. Please help me!”
Eph 5:20 NASB always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
1Th 5:18 NASB in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Mar 7:37a ESV And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well.”
Job 42:1-2 NASB Then Job answered the LORD and said, (2) "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
Mat 19:26 NASB And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Then, after I had paused to give thanks and to pray, a thought popped into my head (which I am certain was from the Lord) – I need to search the internet for discussions on repairs associated with MAP sensor engine codes for my type of car. After looking through several forums, I found two entries where people had gotten the same engine code and the same surging idle symptom. And the repair for both? “Burping” their radiator! Then I realized that I had introduced air into the coolant system when I had removed the upper radiator hose to get to the starter the previous weekend. Air bubbles in the coolant system can cause erratic readings from the engine temperature sensor, and the engine computer responds to these cyclic readings, but the MAP sensor is not tracking with the erratic temp sensor, hence the false MAP sensor code.
The car has to be cold to safely bleed the air from the coolant system, so I went to bed, got up early the next morning, removed the radiator cap, and ran the car with the heater on, long enough to bubble out the trapped air. Problem solved! And lesson acknowledged, with a genuine attitude of gratitude.
What am I learning from these two episodes of car repairs? In addition to the obvious (to thank God in and for everything), I am learning that this very process of pausing to thank God is often the method that God uses to guide us to a better situation. Pausing to thank God gives us the clarity and focus to better sense God’s very presence with us in the moment -- giving us peace, comfort, and guidance.
O God, I know that You use repetition in Scripture to emphasize critical principles of kingdom living – and I am discovering that You use repetition in my life for the same reason. You have used my car twice in one week to drive home this point. I want to abide in the “secret place” of Your presence (Psalm 91 -- KJV) – to really dwell there, and not just visit occasionally. Thank You for teaching me the essentials of doing that: to believe that You do all things well, that You are all powerful, and that I am to thank You in everything and for everything.
Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”