Testimony: Trailer, Trials, Trust, and Thanksgiving
The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 42 • September 5, 2025
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV
OVERVIEW
This week I would like to share a testimony of God’s provision and care, even in little things, during the midst of random trials that happen in life.
Last week, I had the opportunity to make a trip out of town to help someone with moving things out of storage. Initially, this trip was not even a consideration for me as my schedule was completely full. Yet the person was having trouble finding any way to clear out their storage room before the end of the month, so I prayed and asked Jehovah if it was possible and He could use me to help that He would make a way for me to do so.
This prayer was answered rather quickly, as work that I had scheduled for two days of the week was cancelled.
During the first day that was freed up, I spent the day getting various things in order related to my truck and my trailer so that I would be able to carry back the things from the storage facility.
During the second day, I was able to make the trip out of town.
If everything were to go smoothly, the trip from my house to the location of the storage facility would be 4-1/2 to 5 hours with a trailer. So, doing a round trip in a single day, plus the work once there would make for a full day as it is without any added variables.
This trip, however, had some variables.
VARIABLE #1 (Warning)
First, about 30 minutes from home, there was a parking lot that had a huge drop-off to one side. I did not see this with my truck, but when making a wide turn because of pulling my trailer, the wheels of my trailer found the drop-off and slammed hard into the side of the road I was pulling onto.
The hit was hard enough to raise a level of serious concern in my mind. I began closely watching both sides of the trailer in my mirrors from that point on as I was driving.
VARIABLE #2 (Trial)
As I continued down the road for another 30 minutes or so, I noticed smoke in one of my mirrors. Initially, I thought that my truck may have been burning oil, but upon closer inspection I realized the smoke was coming out of the end of the trailer.
I quickly pulled over to find that a wheel was smoking heavily and looked to be in damaged condition. I was a bit confused as I considered that this wheel was on the opposite side of that which experienced the hit with the side of the road.
However, if it had not been for Variable #1 and the impact with the trailer, I would not have been paying as close attention to it and may have driven much further before noticing this problem. Had that happened, far worse damage could have been done to the trailer. In realizing this, I was quite thankful for Variable #1.
I had not encountered this particular issue before and so I was quite uncertain of how to proceed. Fortunately, God has placed a brother in my life that is much more mechanically skilled than myself. After a quick video call, he had diagnosed the issue as being the failure of bearings on that wheel.
I removed the wheel and prepared to drive the trailer, on the remaining three wheels, to the next town, about 30 minutes away. I chose to go in the direction of my final destination (still 4 hours away), trusting that with the help of my brother over the phone and that the parts store would have what I needed, I could make the repairs in a parking lot and be on my way.
Another point of thanksgiving occurred here, for the brother which Jehovah placed in my life, and his expertise which was greatly needed during this time.
VARIABLE #3 (Help)
I removed the tire from trailer and lowered the jack, in preparation to leave. At this point I faced another minor predicament. When I lowered the jack, it became sandwiched with the ground, and I could not pull it out with one wheel being removed from the trailer.
I stood there contemplating about whether to drive off of the jack. I was not really excited about this thought, given that I was not positive how the wheelless axel was going to sit in relation to the ground once I did this and the initial jolt occurred.
Just then another gentleman pulled up and asked if I needed help. He happened to have a lower profile jack in the back of his truck. I used this to remove my jack. After confirming everything looked ok, I was on my way. This man proceeded to follow me for a few minutes to make sure the trailer was driving ok with only three wheels.
I was thankful for the help that came just in time.
VARIABLE #4 (Supplies)
After another 30 minutes of driving, I found myself parked at a gas station beside an auto parts store. The workers in the store were friendly, extremely helpful, and considerate of my situation. I was thankful for God’s leading me to such a place as I worked through the trial.
After a few trips in and out of the store, and a few phone calls with my friend, I had successfully made the repair and was ready to be on my way.
The parts store had everything that I needed for the repair except for one specialty washer. However, it turned out that there was a specialty parts store across the road from them which did have the washer. I also ended up having my tool bag with me, which I had not originally planned to bring. I decided to bring it because of a few other things that came up that I was going to have to do at my destination after the storage facility.
I set out on the road, now with four tires back on the trailer, with much rejoicing and thanksgiving. God had provided me with the friend, with the help, with the tools, and with the parts that I needed to address this trial.
In total, this trial set me back about 4 hours on my trip.
INTERMISSION
I made the rest of the journey without any issues and was able to take care of what I had set out to do.
I was wrapped up and ready to head back home around 8:30 pm. This was originally the time that I had hoped to be back home. Now, at this time, I still had 5 hours of driving left with a full trailer. The thought of staying until the next morning had crossed my mind, but due to obligations the next day, I decided not to chance it.
VARIABLE #5 (Trial)
After about an hour of driving I was finally out of the big city, bright lights, and billboards and into a more rural setting of nature. Since I had gotten such a late start, it was dark and there was not much (outside of the city) in the way of traffic. It was a pleasant evening and so I decided to drive with all the windows down on my truck.
On this stretch of the interstate, there was a temporary concrete wall that had been set up beside the lane that I was driving in. If anyone has driven next to one of these walls with their windows down, they will know that any sounds coming out from your vehicle will be amplified and more audible as they bounce back off the wall.
As I was settling in for the long straight drive down the interstate, a faint sound of metal scraping arrested my attention.
As I was looking around, I noticed sparks in one of my side mirrors. Fully alert now, I could hear the unwelcomed sound much more clearly. The sparks morphed into a steady spray shooting out from the side of my trailer. This time, on the other side of the trailer from Variable #2.
Not knowing what I was dealing with, I slowed down and planned to take the very next exit to assess the situation. As I drove, I reflected on this new variable and became thankful for the time of day at which I was traveling. Had I waited and left in the morning, I would have been in the midst of noisy traffic and would not have been driving next to the concrete wall with all my windows down. Because of when and where I was driving, the new issue with the trailer was quickly ascertained. During the day, I likely would have driven much longer before noticing this issue, and as with Variable #2, much more damage could have occurred as a result.
The next exit that I came to was for one of the areas where the highway department checks 18-wheelers that are passing through. Though it was closed for the night, it provided a large and well-lit area for safely working on the next variable.
I got out to check the trailer and found that one of the tires was completely shredded. Fortunately, I had a spare. I changed out the spare tire without much difficulty. When I checked its pressure, it was low. I then remembered that God had placed upon my mind to bring my portable air compressor before I left the house that morning.
As I aired the tire up, I thankfully considered the providential location which Jehovah had provided me for addressing this issue as well as for equipping me with the air compressor that I needed to get the spare tire ready to go.
Once more on the road, I made it safely back home from here and arrived around 1:15 am, extremely tired, but full of joy that Jehovah was mindful of me on this day.1
CONCLUSION
This concludes my testimony of how God helped me in various ways, during what otherwise could have been very difficult situations. Rather than having a grumble, gripe, or complaint2 about the setbacks, I followed the exhortation of scripture to “Rejoice evermore” and “in every thing [to] give thanks.”3
“Every thing” means everything. If, in surrender to Christ, we allow Him to sanctify our hearts and to bring forth fruits to the glory of the Father,4 we will find many evidences of His lovingkindness, thoughtfulness, and provision in our lives - even in the midst of difficulties.
It is only through Christ that one can truly give thanks in “every thing.” Yet if we make ourselves willing vessels in this way, we find ourselves becoming blessed recipients of a fullness of joy. A joy that is a manifestation of Jesus’ joy within us.5
Prayer
May God help us to put away every trace of murmuring, and fashion within us hearts of rejoicing and thanksgiving, that we may be able to see His hand in our lives through all our circumstances and trials.
God Bless,
Charles
God surely watches over his children and helps them! Wonderful testimony Charles!