Renewal and a New Set of Tires to Boot

Lisa Shefferly-Gillay

My car needed a new set of four tires … badly!

I bought a used car that was in pretty good shape and knew it needed a few things before it was “perfect” for my hour long drive, one way, to work. I had not realized that the tires were that bad, even though I kept hearing the noise they were making.

I also vaguely paid attention to the strange way the car was driving. It would pull this way and that. I am not a car person and there really is no one around to ask about such things.

So I went along my merry way until one day I just couldn’t ignore it any longer. The pulling and noise was getting to be too much. Finally, I decided to have the tires looked at by the local tire dealership. The guy just looked at me with that look (you know the one — “It’s a good thing you got in here when you did!”), as he shook his head in disbelief at me. He showed me how threadbare they were. Okay, okay.

So hundreds of dollars later, I am back on my merry (broke) way. My point being, sometimes God has a way of calling us, gently at first, then louder and more frequently, until we can no longer ignore Him. It is then that we may finally stop and do something about it.

The Call to Renewal

God is always calling us to a renewal of our relationship with Him every moment of every day. At times He calls in a still, small voice (After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. — 1 Kings 19:12) and at other times in the thundering of the wind (The Lord thundered from heaven; the Most High made his voice resound. — 2 Samuel 22: 14). He knows that our best selves are renewed and made complete in Him, and not in the everyday things that we seem to always allow ourselves to get caught up in.

Nothing will satisfy us like a deep, intimate relationship with Our Lord. Nothing. No hobby, no job, no relationship, just God. If God is put first in our lives, then all the rest will fall into place, and the satisfaction due to them will be appropriately obtained.

Many things in our lives appear to be good, until they fall apart. Many times the reasons they fall apart, or even just limp along, is that the satisfaction and joy we truly need and seek from them cannot be derived totally from them. It is only in God that we can find our true happiness and all the rest will fall into place; all the desires of our hearts will follow (Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. — Psalm 37:4).

An Encounter in the Chapel

We all have our ways of how we relate to God. One of mine is adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. My most treasured moments are to steal away by myself and go to my local parish chapel on a weekday, in hopes to be alone with Our Lord for a moment or two.

My life this past month has been so busy with a life change that I barely found time to take a breath; but just the other morning, I had such a moment. My Lord and my God! Such a blessing; no one was around! I had desired to be alone with Him for so long!

I fell to my face before Him. I cried my heart out to Him, and adored and thanked Him amidst all that I had gone through this past year. I told Him how very good it was for this time alone, in the dimmed, intimate chapel.

As I read the Bible, I asked Him to speak to me about the desires of my heart. My eyes fell on Isaiah 58, and I cried with joy, as I really felt He spoke to me in those passages (Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. — Isaiah 58:12). Praise be to Jesus! And I went on with my day with a renewed sense of hope.

The Intimate Whisper

My own relationship with God needs to continue to be renewed throughout my life. No more lulls and valleys of drought for me. I don’t want to be a lost sheep that wanders away from His loving and protecting arms. And I don’t want to be complacent in my relationship with Him, though no crisis may exist. I desire intimacy with Him, a deep and truly abiding intimacy.

I chose to always try and be transformed by His will for my life, and to be renewed in my relationship with Him. Am I perfect in this pursuit? Heck no! But with His help, I sure try every day.

Besides, I like whispers better than thunder, and better than bare tires any day (Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2).

Dear Lord Jesus, I love You so much! Help me to grow closer to You. Though I often fail Your sweet love, please continue to call me close to You in deeper intimacy. This is the greatest desire of my heart. I pray You grant this desire of mine to me, in this life and in the next. I love You, my sweet Jesus, I truly, truly do.

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2 thoughts on “Renewal and a New Set of Tires to Boot”

  1. Lisa this is a great article! You have encouraged us so much by the way you seek God! Wow, keep going strong. I also know exactly what you mean about things in our life just limping along. It does cause us to pray.
    By the way, there are often men in the Church that are mechanics or that can help you with your car. Be safe! God bless you.

  2. Pingback: Martyrdom in Mosul - BigPulpit.com

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