Signora Sheila

No one likes roadblocks or delays. We prefer to do what we want and go where we want. But sometimes we find roadblocks in our way, and frustration sets in. Or irritation, anger, resignation, sadness. Disappointment can bring a whole range of emotions. And we wish for a bulldozer to clear the way.

I’ve hit a few roadblocks lately. My mom and I had cataract surgery on the same day. Two different countries, a world apart, but on the same day. The doctors said everything went fine, but we still couldn’t see well! Then Mom got very sick and spent 10 days in the hospital. And I longed to go to her.

Roadblocks in the way

The first was that Hubby didn’t want me to travel. The second was my back injury last year. It would have been a struggle to carry luggage on my own. And third, my distance vision still wasn’t clear. My eye was still healing and I couldn’t get new glasses yet.

But I felt bad. I wanted to see Mom, and felt I should be there for her. So I started checking flights. Hubby got the passports out, even though he was worried about me traveling alone.

And that proved to be an insurmountable obstacle. Both of my passports had expired. I wasn’t going anywhere.

That’s when the emotional battle began. The whole gamut.

Frustration that I had forgotten to renew my passports. But then, with my serious back injury, I hadn’t planned on traveling. I was just thinking about getting up and walking again.

I was angry at the U.S. government because Hubby couldn’t travel with me. Frustrated with the useless and pointless government regulations. As an unvaccinated foreigner he can’t enter the USA, even though the pandemic emergency is over. He couldn’t come with me.

Resignation set in. No one but God can change the unchangeable. All I could do was resign myself and accept what I could not change. But nothing could stop me from wanting to see Mom.

My desire to see properly was also unquenchable. But my other eye had developed a secondary cataract. I needed to have another medical procedure.

So I applied for new passports. Which, of course, meant waiting at least a month. And I had the third cataract operation. Another wait, another roadblock. So I still can’t travel. I can’t order new glasses until my eye heals, and that means waiting for them to arrive.

With all these obstacles, I wondered if I’d ever see my mom again. Time is ticking away and her health isn’t improving.

Roadblocks, roadblocks, roadblocks

We are human. Frustration with roadblocks is normal. All the emotions we feel are normal reactions. But not necessarily spiritual.

We know that God always works things out for the best. All things. Even when we don’t understand.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

But we don’t like to wait. We want to do things right away, without anything getting in our way. So we look for a bulldozer.

We forget to trust God and wait for Him to work. We forget that He sees and knows things that we don’t. And that He can do things we can’t even imagine.

I couldn’t get to Mom. But she got well enough to go home. And hopefully I’ll get to see her at least one more time. I wasn’t looking forward to a third cataract operation. But at least there was a cure. My passports have arrived. We still can’t leave until the U.S. government removes this bureaucratic roadblock.

But I see God removing the obstacles one by one.

All things work for good in God’s hands. He knows which ovstacles to remove and which ones to leave. Some roadblocks are permanent. But even then we can rest in the shelter of his loving arms.

We can trust Him because He always knows what’s right.

And that should cause us to skip the emotional gamut. Let go of all our frustration, irritation, anger, and sadness. Yes, disappointment can be hard. But knowing that God is in control can turn our disappointment into joyful rejoicing over His care and provision. And turn our resignation or acceptance into a song of thanksgiving for His everlasting peace and presence.

I hope that when I come encounter future roadblocks I will respond with thanksgiving, not frustration. That I won’t try to make my own roads. But wait for the Master Roadmaker to pave the way, when and as He wills.

We can always trust our Master Waymaker to make the best road. He does a better job than any bulldozer, paving crew, or architect. And a far better job than we could ever do!

When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford

📷 Image credits: fence; road closed