Ugh! Speed bumps. They’re everywhere. It was bad enough when they put them in parking lots. Now they’re on the narrow streets of neighborhoods where the speed limit is slow enough to walk instead of drive.

So why are they there? The selfish mind is wired to go at its own speed regardless of warnings for the driver and the other travelers. These undercarriage scrapers serve a purpose.

It is our time of grace to look toward God’s Son, Jesus, to learn why life’s speed bumps are there. After all, he traveled those roads before us, and he knew of them before they were made.

“Carefully walk a straight path, and all your ways will be secure” (Proverbs 4:26 GW). 

So think carefully!

Was I going so fast I missed the signs of heavenly direction?

Was the speed bump for me or ultimately someone else?

Was anyone following me?

Did I slow down to offer help?

When we slam through those speed bumps, there’s a cause and effect on all of us. We can learn from our recklessness, warn of the dangers, encourage the weary, and be inspired by the long-distance travelers up ahead.

Slow down! Here comes another speed bump . . .