Speed Bumps

We’ve all run into them, or more accurately, over them. No one likes them. Speed bumps jolt us, throw our wheels out of alignment, and slow us down to tortoise-approved speeds of two to five miles per hour.

But slowing down isn’t always bad. On the road, speed bumps might save you from hitting a child on a bicycle or a deer crossing the road for greener pastures. They might alert you to oncoming traffic or treacherous road curves. They deter speedsters from terrorizing a neighborhood. In life, slowing gives you time to think calmly before giving an answer, making a decision, or taking an irrevocable step.

Speed bumps are a good metaphor for life’s trials. Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Literary Agency wrote an encouraging post in which she discussed situations that might touch an author’s life. One comment to her post labeled some of these situations as “Speed Bumps.” You can read Tamela’s complete post “You’re Not The First Author To …”  here.

As an author, three of the “negative” things on Tamela’s list happened to me. Oddly enough, in each instance, what first seemed a dark moment to my soul, later became a blessing.

You’re Not the First Author To…

…miss a deadline because you underestimated how long a project would take.

In my enthusiasm at being asked to write a sequel to my debut novel, I was over-optimistic about the time needed to research, plot, and write my second book. As the deadline drew near, I knew I had to reset my publisher’s expectations. It was discouraging to humbly explain I could no longer promise to meet the goal date. Thankfully, she was understanding, and we fixed a new date that feels doable. Now the writing is proceeding smoothly and I’m enjoying it again.

…have a manuscript declared unacceptable.

A rejection hurts, no matter how you attempt to see the good in it. I remember that ache. Like any speed bump, each rejection slowed me down, and for weeks afterward, made writing nearly as impossible as driving on four flat tires. Looking back, I can truthfully say every rejection from a teacher, agent, or publisher turned out a blessing because each came with a reason why. I either received a rejection letter explaining the issues or had a verbal discussion about weak areas, which allowed me to ask questions. Those opportunities allowed me to rewrite and grow.

…become an “overnight sensation” after writing for twenty years.

I’m no “overnight sensation” but I did write for over twenty years before Rain was published. I’d published shorter pieces, newspaper and magazine articles, and a couple of short stories, but my desire was to publish novels. Rain saw success in some contests, but I ran into speed bumps when I pitched it to agents. I’d considered self-publishing, but finally, discouragement slowed me to a stop. There came a day I decided to let Rain be my “book in a drawer” and considered quitting writing altogether.

Then I received a text message from a stranger that changed everything. If I hadn’t gotten to the point of quitting, it might not have seemed so miraculous. You can read that amazing story on my blog post GOD IS NEVER LATE!

What “speed bumps” are you facing in life?

There are always trials and discouragements to challenge us. Some we face every day, others blindside us and leave us gasping. But in every situation, be assured others have faced a similar trial.

• • • • • • Have you had a serious disagreement with a spouse, child, sibling, or friend? Perhaps the encounter left your heart heavy as if you’re dragging a lead weight.
          • Have you lost a job? Or would you like to lose the one you have and find another?
          • Has your doctor given a terrifying diagnosis for a loved one or for you?
          • Do you have to move and you don’t want to? Or do you want to move and can’t?

There are so many things that slow us down or even stop us. Like traffic control, these “speed bumps” can keep us from harm, send us on a detour, or even teach us a better way. Unfortunately, the human reaction is often fear, anger, or resentment. We all have to remind ourselves that God invites us to tell Him all about it.

It helps me to collect and save Bible passages that remind me to forgive, to bring my worries to Him, to come to him for healing and comfort. But the one passage that calms my soul in almost any circumstance is found in Isaiah:

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  ~ Isaiah 40:28-31 New King James Version

Build up your spiritual muscles.

I challenge you to begin collecting your own verses to build up your spiritual muscles. A good way to do this is to read through the Bible consecutively. Start anywhere you like, perhaps one of the gospels, perhaps the Psalms, and just keep reading as you would a novel. As you read, I find it helpful to take notes, whether in a journal or an inexpensive notebook. Write out the verses and references that strike you. Write what encourages you about the passage you read. Write what you have questions about. You may find it helpful to write some of your prayers in your notebook or journal.

Later!

Earlier in this post, I wrote “what at first was a dark moment to my soul, later became a blessing.” I emboldened “later” because often waiting is the key to having peace about these speed bumps. You have to come to the point where you trust that the Lord is going to bring good out of each one. It may not be today or tomorrow, but He will bring it about at the right time. Patiently wait for later.

If you’d like to check out a few more verses, here are more favorites: Joshua 1:8-9, Psalm 46:2-3, Hosea 6:3, Micah 7:7, Ephesians 3:16-21, Ephesians 4:34, Philippians 4:4-9.

I’d love to hear your ideas for dealing with life’s “speed bumps.” Please share in the comments below so all can benefit.

Dana McNeely

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Inspired by the Bible story of Elijah raising the widow’s son from the dead, author Dana McNeely wondered what became of the boy.  She began research for her novel, “Rain,” which tells the story of the three-and-a-half-year drought from his perspective. No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.

In 2021 RAIN became a finalist in The Christy Award (use the registered mark) and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award® and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award.

WHIRLWIND, the second novel in the “Whispers on the Wind” series, tells the story of a king’s downfall and a love that transcends war.

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