A few days ago, we braved the solid sheet of ice masquerading as our driveway and headed toward Asheville to take my sweet mama home. She had spent the weekend with us because of the predicted snow and ice storm. Once we were out of our neighborhood, the main roads were clear, but about ten minutes into the drive, my car displayed a bright yellow warning message. It read something like “check charging.” The little red battery icon also lit up.

Since Todd had a hip replacement three weeks ago, I was driving. And if you know me, I am NOT adventurous. I do not take risks! I was very thankful Todd had come along for the ride. I asked, “Should I pull over? Should we turn around?” Neither of us had ever seen that warning message. With the battery light on, we assumed it meant the battery was simply failing. Todd was confident that if we left the car running, we could make it to Asheville and back and get a new battery on the way home if necessary. Maybe it was just “cold”? We picked up I-26 at Arden and continued toward Asheville.

After seeing Mom safely home and still having no confidence the back roads would be clear, we headed home on the Interstate. About the time we passed the exit for Sweeten Creek Road, the car went completely crazy. All the flashing lights. Messages about the brakes. As I pressed the gas, the car raced but felt like it was stopping. The steering became very stiff.

Thankfully, we had enough sense to take the next exit onto Hendersonville Road. I was ready to pull over immediately, but Todd convinced me to keep going for a very short distance until we saw the beautiful black-and-white Advanced Auto Parts flag. The car was going about 5 miles an hour (and I had no idea where my hazard lights were), and I could barely steer it to the left to turn into the parking lot. By the time we got there, I could no longer turn the steering wheel at all, so we coasted straight in and parked in the middle of the lot.

After describing what had happened, the store employee said confidently, “It’s your alternator.”

I’ve talked to a few people since this happened, and apparently, it’s not unusual. What’s hard to believe, though, is how fast it happens, with little warning. It was only after we got home and I started researching that I realized there had probably been a few “warning signs,” but I didn’t recognize them. For one, my car had been parked outside our garage for three weeks because I couldn’t maneuver Todd’s car far enough to the right, and he couldn’t drive. I had noticed a slight “whining” sound when I started my car, but assumed it was because it wasn’t used to being out in the cold. Also, in hindsight, there have been a few times when I felt the motor “miss” while accelerating. So subtle… but so important!

When I think back on this adventure, I can see how God took care of us and that it could have been so much worse. The alternator could have failed while I was alone or on one of our trips to Raleigh, far from home. Instead, God allowed it to happen at just the right time, so we could exit safely and make it to the auto parts parking lot. Traffic was very light on Hendersonville Road, allowing us to cross oncoming lanes easily without stopping in the middle of the road. There just happened to be a wrecker and repair shop five minutes away. Since it was early afternoon, they were able to come get us and the car almost immediately. After arranging the repair, we got a very nice Uber ride home with “Hector” and were able to pick up our car the next morning.

I will confess I’ve lost a bit of confidence in the car. I feel like it betrayed me, and someone is probably going to get a good deal on a ten-year-old RDX with a shiny new alternator. I’ve been reminded of how big a chicken I am, easily unnerved when things go wrong. The fact is, I don’t handle stress all that well. I’m just good at arranging my life to avoid things that cause stress. (Hence my OCD to have a place for everything, and everything in its place!)

As I think about this experience, I’m reminded that our spiritual life has an “alternator,” so to speak. Consider the following explanation:

In essence, the alternator is the backbone of your car’s electrical system, providing the power needed to run everything from the headlights and radio to the air conditioning and power windows. Without the alternator, your car would have to rely solely on the battery to power these systems, which would drain the battery quickly and leave you stranded.

It’s important to note that while the battery provides the initial jolt of energy needed to start the car, the alternator is responsible for keeping the battery charged while the car is running. In this sense, the alternator is the unsung hero of the electrical system, working tirelessly in the background to keep everything running smoothly. Without a properly working alternator, your car will slowly grind to a halt, leaving you stranded on the side of the road.*

The Holy Spirit is the backbone of our spiritual life, providing the power needed for every aspect of life. Without the Holy Spirit, even as followers of Jesus, we would have to rely solely on our own fleshly power to live the Christian life. We would soon find ourselves drained—and stranded!

The analogy breaks down when we consider the battery, because the Holy Spirit certainly doesn’t need a “jump start!” He’s quite able to accomplish whatever work God has purposed for Him to do in us, and He will never fail or wear out. But in one sense, we do have a battery—the Word of God. When we open our Bibles and begin to read, it’s an open invitation for the Holy Spirit to speak to us and transform our hearts and minds. As Todd often says, “The Holy Spirit speaks through the Word of God to show us the will of God.”

As far as spiritual warning signs, those, too, are found in God’s Word. If our hearts are growing a bit cold toward the Lord, or we find ourselves compromising with sin, the sweet Holy Spirit has a way of warning us—convicting us. When God flashes a warning signal, we would do well to heed it before we find ourselves calling out for His wrecker services!

Getting stranded wasn’t fun, and I’m still kind of mad at my car. But the experience has reminded me once again of God’s faithfulness. When trials and unpleasant circumstances come, as they surely will, may I renew my dependence on Him, find my peace in His providence, and seek the spiritual lessons that help me grow in my faith.

***

* https://heartautocare.com/10-clear-signs-of-bad-alternator-dont-ignore-these-symptoms/