BUMPS AND BLESSINGS

When I was younger, I’d always complained about the bumps on the road. I’d think, “Why do they have to put these here?” They’d slow me down and mess up my rhythm, and I just wanted to get where I was going faster. But one day, I realized that those bumps weren’t there to annoy me but to protect me. They were there to make sure I didn’t go too fast around a corner or miss something important. They were there to keep me safe.

In life, we all hit bumps in the road. Maybe you’re facing a challenge right now. Maybe you lost a job, had a relationship that didn’t work out, or you’ve been praying for a breakthrough, and it hasn’t come yet. It’s easy to think, “Why this bump, God? Why is this slowing me down?”

Friends, those bumps are not there to hold you back. They are there to make sure you reach your destination safely. Just like speed bumps, life’s trials are there to protect us, to guide us, and sometimes, to slow us down so we can see what’s ahead.

In James 1:2-4, it says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” God doesn’t allow these bumps on your way so that they make you stumble, but to help you grow.

If life were a smooth ride, we’d race through it, missing out on so much. Sometimes, God uses those bumps to slow us down so we can refocus, reflect, and rely on Him. Instead of looking at the bump as a burden, start seeing it as a blessing. Instead of seeing it as a problem, see it as an opportunity.

So, the next time you hit a bump in the road, don’t get discouraged. Keep your eyes on the road, but more importantly, keep your heart focused on God. Because when you do, those bumps will become blessings, and you’ll find yourself exactly where He intended you to be, stronger, wiser, and full of His grace.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
October 31, 2024