How do you deal with obstacles? Things or situations that get in the way of your plans or work?

While drinking his morning coffee, my brother watched a raven maneuver to get into a neighbor’s garbage can. It stood on the ground, hopped up in short flight, turned upside down and kicked the lid off the can! It then dug into the trash, strewing garbage all around the lidless can.

I mowed my grass around a short power pole and a guy wire anchor for years. I finally decided to cut the pole level with the ground and bury the cable so that I can mow right over that spot. Crazy that it took years for me to see how I could make mowing easier.

Speaking of the mower, I park it outside in the summer and stretch a cover over it. It wasn’t difficult to put the cover on or remove it when I needed to mow, but it was an extra chore. I realized I can park the mower under an overhanging roof in front of the garage out of the rain and not use the cover at all.

Solutions are satisfying to implement.

Obstacles and barriers show up in our lives regularly. Equipment doesn’t last, machines break down, misunderstandings and offensives come.

Mistakes and failures occur, but they don’t have to be final. Find a solution and put things right again.

Since marriage is God’s idea, he helps restore relationships to a positive setting. The “we” that started the marriage remains the focus. Husband and wife don’t go back to the “me” way of living. Selfishness always causes problems. A heartfelt “I’m sorry” can still help make things right.

The Bible says that God sets the solitary in families. That is true for natural families and the family of faith. Friends and family are much more important than wealth and material possessions. In the end, they are far more valuable than things.

The Bible speaks against division, in marriages and families as well as churches. The apostle asked, “Is Christ divided?” If God is not divided, then avoiding division in our relationships is good.

I recently experienced an obstacle that prevented one far worse. Dipnet fishing was good but the extra weight made the boat much heavier. We put the boat on the trailer to pull out of the water and the trailer axle broke. Dragging the trailer up the ramp and into the parking lot without one tire made quite a racket. We transferred the fish to coolers in the pickup. Fortunately a tow truck came and loaded the boat and trailer. The state trooper pointed out the axle breaking there was far better than when going down the highway at 55 mph. What a wreck that would have been!

I’m thankful the Lord helps us overcome obstacles and he keeps some obstacles out of the way. Christ Jesus paid a horrible price on the cross to provide salvation through grace and faith in his name. His death seemed final and his ministry a failure but the resurrection proved to be the victory that defeats sin and fear.

Let the Lord Jesus help you with obstacles you are facing.

Mitch Glover is pastor of Sterling Pentecostal Church. Sunday services include Bible classes for all ages at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Bible study is Thursday at 7 p.m. Visit the services and sterlingpentecostalchurch.com.