Are You Driving On A Flat Tire?

Are you ignoring or avoiding something? Whether it be the trauma you endured, some grief, other emotions that you are pushing down? I have done this more times than I can count, but I have learned that it is counterproductive. I know I did not want to deal with stuff for a long time.

I have talked to numerous people that want to leave the past in the past and don’t want to “bring it up.” Guess what? It’s there whether you want it to be or not. In your depression, or anxiety, or you’re under or overeating, in your body aches, in the things that scare you but make no sense, in insomnia – you get the picture. Your body will remember it until you deal with it – or die. Whichever comes first.

I have discovered that though God may not heal me instantly He does want me to heal because then I can become all He created me to be for Him here on earth.

I was discussing this the other day and the analogy of a flat tire. There was a day several years ago I was late for an appointment, and I hit a pothole and my tire started to go flat. I was determined it was not going to slow me down, so I kept driving.

Guess what happened? It got to the point I was forced off the road and had to call for help to change the tire. However, since I chose to drive on it so long, once the guy started to change it, he told me I had also ruined the entire wheel. Not only was that more expensive, but it was not driveable and I missed the appointment I was trying to get to by driving on a flat tire.

It was all so counter productive and logically I knew continuing to drive on a flat tire would not work, but I was determined to not have it stop me and have to deal with it. I did not have time to deal with it!

The same is true for whatever we avoid. It will slow you down and catch up to you, and you will be forced to deal with it – whether through an illness, fatigue, unrealistic anxiety that keeps you from living, or just not experiencing the full joy and freedom God has for you.

So, I have learned that though I hate dealing with the past trauma, and grief and emotions, if I don’t, I will be forced to slow down. Through my body aches, fatigue, foggy brain, increased depression. So, I do the hard work and deal with what’s needed and then the amazing thing is that I have more energy and get more done in the time that’s left. Even though I took time away to deal with the junk I didn’t want to.

My question for you is: Are you driving on a flat tire? (No judgement here – I’ve done that for real and in not dealing with trauma at times too! Been there, done that-I’ve got the t-shirt.)

If you are, what are you going to do about it? Do you need to find a good counselor? Do you need to write out your grief and emotions? I encourage you to do whatever it may be because I promise it will free you up to be all God created you to be.

You my beautiful friend, were created for amazing things that God has planned! Change the tire and embrace the road up ahead!

© 2022 Susan M. Clabaugh All Rights Reserved.