I avoid buying new cars for two main reasons. First, they are a poor investment since they lose value the moment you drive them off the lot. I always remember Thomas Stanley’s advice from The Millionaire Next Door: invest in houses, not cars. Houses appreciate in value, while cars depreciate. Second, new cars are flawless at first, but that perfection is short-lived. Sooner or later, they’ll get scratched or dented, and you’ll have to decide whether to repair the damage or live with it. This mirrors life itself—it’s not perfect, and we must decide which flaws to fix and which to accept.
I love hunting for unique used cars with a story to tell. I always insist on a clean CarFax, meaning no accidents, personal use only (not part of a rental fleet), and 1-2 previous owners who seemed to have cared for them as I do. I’m willing to search nationwide, not just locally. These “diamonds in the rough” are out there, but finding them requires a contrarian mindset and a willingness to look beyond the obvious. These gems are never perfect; they have minor flaws that add to their character, and I appreciate them all the more for it.
The sooner you can embrace the dents in life, the better off you’ll be. The world is tough, but through God’s eyes, you are a diamond in the rough. He created you and is working within you to fulfill His purpose for you. To achieve this, you need to discern which dents to repair and which to accept. You’re not perfect, and you never will be on this side of heaven. Use your dents to your advantage—they add to your character. God will use them to accomplish great things, as long as you love Him and have faith in Him.
Ephesians 3:20 states, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” This verse beautifully captures God’s boundless ability to work within us. Often, we concentrate on our desires, hoping He will change or fix specific aspects of our lives to make them better. However, He encourages us to expand our vision and ask for greater things.
The Holy Spirit possesses abundant power to transform our lives from within, though this transformation is often gradual. Spiritual growth and maturity take time, requiring us to exercise patience and faith, trusting that God is at work even when we don’t see immediate results.
God has a purpose for your life and is continually working to fulfill it. His ultimate goal is to shape every believer into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29). To achieve this, He may lead us through challenges and heartaches (i.e., fixing dents), teaching us to bear other burdens (i.e., living with dents) to keep our focus on Him.
Our lives are meant for His glory, not ours. Trust that He knows exactly what He is doing. Rely on His wonderful promise to do even more than you have asked or imagined despite your dents.
MindWolves 