A Broken Sensor

We were sitting in front of a funeral home in Owasso, expecting the worse. My car was overheating and we had no idea how we were going to get home in the pouring rain.

Because of today's technology, my car will tell me when my oil needs to be changed, when I need to put gas in it, and when my engine is overheating. Those are just a few examples; there are plenty of other alerts that can appear on my screen to tell me when my car is in need of attention.

Here's the thing: the technology in my car is so advanced that it will recognize a reading from the sensors placed strategically throughout the engine to let me know that my car is overheating. If I don't take the precautionary steps, it will put my car into 'protect mode' to keep my rpm's low. Now that's advanced technology!

We managed to get the car home safely by fervent prayer and slow driving. We replaced the water pump and thermostat, though we were pretty sure it was a sensor inside the engine that needed replacing. To be on the safe side, we focused on fixing what was easiest. But it turned out replacing those parts did not fix the problem. The problem was not on the exterior of the engine--it was on the inside.

Three days later, my husband stood before the car holding two sensors. I had been praying for three days straight that this was the solution to our overheating problem and that God would give my husband the wisdom he needed to replace these sensors with ease. If it turned out that the sensors were fine, then we were looking at a bad engine. However, if it was just a sensor that needed repair, it would mean that my engine was not overheating and that the system could easily be fixed.

The time it takes to remove the portion of my engine to reach one of the sensors is over an hour and a half. So, we started in after he got home from work. With the help of my father-in-law, we were able to take apart the engine to reach one of the sensors. The first sensor my husband wanted to replace was broken in half! With a big sigh of relief, he happily removed the problem from the interior of my engine.

As the new sensor was put in place, my father-in-law noticed that something seemed wrong. The new sensor crumbled in his hand as he tried adjusting it. We had a faulty new sensor. Now that we know what the main problem is--and have a new part on order--my car will be up and running again soon.

But the whole experience has taught me one great God truth: we will, from time-to-time, end up with a broken sensor. And though we will try to fix the exterior first, the only way to get back to our faith is to do a major work on the inside.

I fall off course sometimes. I forget to read my Bible and to pray. I forget that I can't do this alone. I get caught up in the world and forget my Savior.

But THANK GOD that he shows me when I have a broken sensor. And with much prayer, grace and determination, my heart is set on the right course again.

 If you've strayed from the right path today, take the time to say this prayer of repentance:

God, 
I know that I'm not on the right course. 
I know that I have strayed too far from you. 
Please, help guide my footsteps back to you. 
Remind me that I need you every hour of every day. 
Thank you for always loving me in spite of the wrong turns I take in this life.
Amen