Do you live in an area with a snowy climate? Then you’ll know the sheer joy of trying to drive during a heavy snowstorm.

The snowplow hasn’t come by yet, so for starters no one can see the lane markers. Cars start to slip and slide into the wrong lane. Drivers become less able to stop their vehicles in time at red lights, or to get up large hills. Cars might be stuck at the side of the road, wheels spinning fruitlessly. The number of car accidents skyrockets, and everyone is late for work.

It’s delightful, isn’t it?

But there are a few tricks to driving in snow, and they also apply to navigating through the difficulties of life.

First off, take your time and slow down during a snowstorm. If you try to rush or make sudden, jerky movements when the road is slippery, you’ll just end up in trouble.

Another good idea is to follow the tracks of the cars which have gone before you. If you can, get behind a heavy vehicle, like a bus or truck. Let it carve a path through the snow for you, and follow in its tire tracks.

Eventually, enough cars will traverse the road so that the heat from the friction of their tires melts some of the snow, revealing the dark pavement. When your tires can contact the pavement directly, what do you get? Traction! You can drive more safely now, knowing you won’t slip.

I think we can borrow some of this advice for when we’re facing challenges in life:

Firstly, when confronted with difficult times, slow down and don’t panic. Making sudden, rash decisions when you’re in a stressful situation can just land you in more trouble. Take some time to discern what God wants you to do. He loves you and doesn’t want you to slip up.

When you’re struggling to make headway during this time of crisis, get behind a “heavyweight” or hero of the faith. Emulate their godly lives. They’ve paved the way for us.

Take advantage of the work already done by the countless other Christians who have gone before you. Read the books of advice they’ve written to help you in your Christian walk. They’ve made the path easier for you.

Most importantly, follow in the footsteps of Christ Himself. Galatians 5:25 says to “keep in step with the Spirit.” The Greek verb used here suggests the idea of walking in line behind a leader, as a soldier would.

“My feet have followed in his tracks; I have kept to his way and not turned aside.” (Job 23:11)

If you continue doing these things, your “tires” will eventually reach solid ground. You’ll be standing on the firm foundation of Christ Himself, and you’ll get real traction. As the old hymn goes: “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

If you stay on God’s path, you won’t get off course and crash, no matter what your circumstances!

© 2020 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.