In a past devotional, I began telling the story of how I have decided to “take the Train” through my recent experience with breast cancer. I decided to let God be the Train Driver, and I would simply rest in His arms as He carried me through.

And for the most part, I succeeded. But as time went on, little things suddenly began to bother me. It was as if the cancer had used up all of my patience/stress reserves, and there was nothing left over for life’s other problems!

I knew I was overreacting, but little things just wouldn’t stop pushing me over the edge! Lord, help me!

But that coveted help didn’t seem to arrive. In fact, things only got worse. Like, for example, the day my son returned home driving a wreck that had at one time been my beautiful car…!

The unusual dry spell and heat we had been experiencing had caused the dry roads to be covered with a thin layer of oil, and when the rains finally came that Saturday afternoon, they became dangerous for hydroplaning. My son had driven a friend to a local conservation area for some hiking, and as the car crested a hill, it slipped on the wet oil, careened out across the road, out of control, and if it hadn’t been for the guardrail, it would have continued its rapid descent into the ravine below.

Thanks be to God, the two were unhurt. The car, however, was not so fortunate. The driver’s side was completely wrecked. The front end was smashed beyond recognition, the frame was bent, and the driver’s door refused to open more than five centimeters. How the car was still drivable, I’ll never know.

I took one look at that wreck and I knew in my heart that the cost of professionally repairing the damage was more than the 10 year-old vehicle with 225,000 kms was worth. My faithful little car was totalled!

I should have just been happy the kids were safe, but all I could think about were the glaring problems: How would we all get to work and back with just the use of the only other vehicle? How could we afford to fix or replace this one? How could we afford the steep increase in insurance that would surely ensure?

Needless to say, I spent the rest of the evening completely stressed out by all of the “how could” questions, and it wasn’t until the next morning that God was able to finally get my attention enough to focus on His voice.

And just what did He say?

You’re not on the train!

That’s when I began to realize that the Train Ride wasn’t just about cancer. It was about everything in my life. Could it be that this was why I had been feeling so irritable? Because I was only on the Train for my cancer?

I repented then and there. I gave the entire car scenario, along with everything else I had been stressing about, to Jesus. I put it all on the Train.

Later that day, I learned that the friend’s dad and brother do body work on the side. They thought they might be able to improve the looks and drivability of my car!

I had no idea how they would manage this, I had no idea how we would survive while it was away being fixed. But I stayed on the Train.

On Monday, I learned that my surgery was scheduled for later that same week. Wait! That meant we only had to limp through a couple more days, and then we wouldn’t even need the second car for awhile!

Our friends were able to find a car of the same make, model and year in a nearby junk yard. Its back end was damaged beyond repair, but the front end was intact. We left our car at their home on Saturday after my surgery, and less than a week later after receiving it, we got the message: The car is ready!

And right on time for numerous medical appointments that were scheduled! In the end, we only paid $370 to repair the car. As this was less than our insurance deductible, we didn’t report anything to insurance and my son’s driving record was preserved. There would be no increase in rates! All of my original worries, resolved.

But God wasn’t finished. I was prepared for the fact that the car wouldn’t be all one color anymore. After all, what were the chances that the junked car was silver?

But God doesn’t do things halfway. The junk yard car was silver, just like mine! My car was still all one color! To me this things was like frosting on a cake. Unnecessary, but oh, so nice!

But God still wasn’t finished. This particular model of car looks great with a hood protector, but as they are expensive and primarily cosmetic, I had never purchased one. Imagine my delight when I saw that my repaired car now had a hood protector!

As I sat back and reflected on this, it occurred to me that God was trying to teach me an important lesson. When I simply put all of my problems into His hands, God doesn’t only fix them, He throws in a few bonuses as well!

Friends, whatever it is you are facing, whether big (Medical issues, loss of a loved one or a job, etc.), or small (a wrecked car!), give it to Jesus. Get “on the Train” with me, and let’s let God worry about the details!

Is it for nothing that we are told to cast: “…all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV)?

Lyn Chaffart

(To access the entire “Cancer Experiences” devotional series, please click here.)