So… back in November, our car, our reliable, been-with-us-since-2017 car, decided it had had enough. The engine seized up, and just like that, it was game over. I guess it was time. It had seen some things, heard some car seat meltdowns, and served us well. But the cost to fix it? More than the car was worth. So we said our goodbyes and bought another vehicle.
A fresh start. A clean slate. A car that, theoretically, wouldn’t fall apart on us.
It lasted a few weeks.
That’s when we noticed oil leaking. Not just a little. A situation. Took it to the shop. They worked on it. Took it home. Oil still leaking. Took it back. Dealership says, “Yeah… this just isn’t going to work. We’ll go ahead and replace the engine.”
Bold move, but okay. We’ll take it.
New engine installed. We move on. Until my wife gets a call last week. “There’s a recall on a part in that new engine. Bring it in—we’ll replace the part. Should only take a day.”
She drops it off. They shuttle her home.
Later that night, we get a call.
“The part failed. And, uh… the engine’s done. Again. We’re going to need to replace it.”
Y’all.
Two engines.
Six months.
Same car.
At this point, I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or call for an exorcism.
But here’s the thing: we’ve got an manufacturer warranty. And that warranty? It’s pulled through every time. When the engine gave out the first time, it was covered. When the recall part failed and killed that engine too? Covered.
It’s not ideal. Not by a long shot. But we’re not out thousands. We’re not left stranded. It’s inconvenient, sure. Frustrating? Absolutely. But we’ve been taken care of.
And that got me thinking.
This is kinda how life goes sometimes. Stuff breaks. Things you thought would last suddenly don’t. You do the “right” thing and get the “new car,” make the “wise choice” and things still fall apart. Sometimes twice. In six months. And it feels ridiculous. You start to question if anything is going to hold up.
But God… He keeps showing up. Over and over.
He doesn’t always prevent the breakdowns. Sometimes the engine seizes. Sometimes the repair fails. Sometimes the second engine dies, too.
But He always covers us.
Maybe not in the way we expect, or on the timeline we prefer, but He's there. Providing. Sustaining. Making sure we’re not stuck without hope or help. He’s the ultimate “manufacturer warranty,” if you will. He goes beyond what we deserve. He steps in when everything falls apart—for the second or third time—and says, I’ve got you.
Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Very present. Not distant. Not delayed. Present.
So if life feels like a never-ending series of broken engines, hold on. Take a breath. God’s got you covered—even when it feels like nothing else does.
And hey—at least you’re not replacing a third engine. Yet.
