We owned a Volvo from 1998-2008. Almost exactly like one pictured here. 1994 Volvo 940 sedan. Dark metallic green. Ours had hubcaps. Nothing fancy other than the heated gray clothe seats—standard issue in Swedish cars I guess. It was boxy. But safe.

Just a year into our married life my wife was run off the road, flipped and totaled her Cutlass Supreme. Recovering from the accident wasn’t as much about physically injuries. Miraculously, she had a small cut on one finger, a little knot on here head, and her entire body was sore for a week. Getting back to driving after such trauma took time, however.

We’d finally found the car of her dreams. A little red sports car. We had no kids. Why not? But she didn’t feel safe. I went back to the dealership and asked, “Do you have anything safer?”

“We just got this one in. A Volvo. You can’t get safer.”

After a quick inspection and a short drive, I decided to pick her up from work in it. Dark green and Volvo were not on our car wish list. But the price and reputation were persuasive enough. And so, for a decade, my wife drove a green Volvo.

As new Volvo drivers, I’ll never forget how many other Volvos we noticed on the roads around our home in Arlington, Texas. “They’re everywhere! Where’d all these Volvos come from?!”

Oh, wait. They were already out there. We just never noticed. Why notice boxy Volvos—green or any other color—when you’d never imagine driving one? Until you did.

Think about examples like these in your life…

It doesn’t matter what God instructs about parenting. My kids are great. Until they aren’t.
Who cares what the Bible teaches about money? I don’t have money trouble. Until you do.
I’m fine without hearing the Holy Spirit’s voice. I’m making it okay on my own. Until you aren’t.
I don’t care that Jesus died for me. Who needs abundant or eternal life? Until you do.

We don’t discover the ubiquity of Volvos until we own a green one. There is so much traffic in our lives that we learn to pay attention only to what meets our needs or piques our interests.

We don’t notice until it affects us: the Green Volvo Experience.

Maybe reading this can be your Green Volvo Experience with God. You can decide right now to prioritize your relationship with him. To spend time with Him through the Bible & in prayer. To notice Him at work around you & join Him there.

Seek the Lord while He may be found;
call to Him while He is near.
Let the wicked one abandon his way
and the sinful one his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord,
so He may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for He will freely forgive.
—Isaiah 55:6-7 HCSB—

Before you go on to your next busy task, take a moment to pray about what God is saying to you through this post. And, as always, share a comment and share this article using the tools below.