A Prayer for Help

John 5:14 ~ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

The verse from John 5:14 was very fitting for me a few weeks back. I’m sure we’ve all had moments in our lives when something has gone wrong. What do we do when we’re having a bad day? Who do we turn to when things go wrong in our life? All too often we try to handle situations in life on our own, without the help of God. God knows what we need in our lives, but we do need to ask for His help. Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Here is a situation that happened to me a few weeks back. I thought I could handle a situation on my own, but it wasn’t until I turned to God that I recieved help. I knew that if I turned to God that He would help, but I wasn’t sure how. A few weeks ago, while driving a company International box truck to a customer delivery, the vehicle developed mechanical problems. Suddenly, the engine began sputtering, and the engine light came on. These newer box trucks are designed so the engine will shut down, within about 30 seconds of the engine light showing up. This is to avoid costly engine damage, when the vehicle is malfunctioning.

The vehicle was relatively close to an exit ramp. My first thought was please just let me get this vehicle to the ramp; since there was so much construction on the interstate. Plus it is much easier to hook up a tow, when it’s not on the interstate shoulder. I was able to accelerate before the engine shut down, and was able to coast off the interstate to the exit ramp. Where the vehicle safely came to rest, on the shoulder of the exit ramp.

There was no way to know exactly what was wrong with the vehicle. I just knew it had stopped running for some reason. I exited the vehicle and popped the hood, took a look around to see what may be wrong, everything looked normal. At least as far as I could tell. The next thing was to try and get the vehicle running. This was a Friday afternoon, and I had been looking forward to the weekend.

I got back into the vehicle and turned the key. It was trying to turn over, but just wasn’t catching. There was a can of starting fluid in the truck from the winter, so I sprayed some starting fluid in the filter, and went back to turn the key. The truck started, but for all of 10 seconds. I repeated the same steps several times, over what seemed like an eternity, with a the same result. Each time the truck would start for about 10 seconds, then stop. There was no way this truck was going to start! I had been trying to get the truck started for about 20 minutes, and nothing.

The office was called, and arrangements were made for another truck to meet me. There was product on the truck which still needed to get to our customers. Google maps was used to pull up the tow company we normally go through. The number was nowhere to be found. The website came up, but no number, at least one that could be found. The number was there somewhere, but I wasn’t finding it. So much for technology!

After not finding the tow number, and feeling like this was going to be a long Friday afternoon, my heart was moved to pray. I should have thought to pray sooner, instead of handling this on my own, but I didn’t. So I began to pray. It was a simple, yet heartfelt prayer. I knew God would help somehow, but wasn’t sure exactly in what way. Everything would work out, one way or another.

After praying, the search continued for the tow number. But suddenly, this feeling of calmness and peace came over me. After being convinced the vehicle was going to have to be towed, God placed it on my heart to try to start the vehicle one more time. Remember, I had been trying to start the vehicle for several minutes, each time the vehicle started and would stop again.

So, I sprayed more starting fluid in the air filter, then try to start the truck one last time. This time the vehicle started. Not only did it start, but it stayed running! The vehicle sat at idle for about 3-4 minutes. The hood was closed, and the truck was then driven to the repair shop, where another vehicle and driver were waiting. After all that, we only ended up working 30 minutes late. What a day!! But it all worked out! And God showed me that He was right there with me the whole time. God definately had a hand in the vehicle starting, I’m convinced of it.

God is great!! The situation with the truck yesterday, wasn’t the hardest one I’ve faced in my life. In fact, it was probably one of the easiest. It wasn’t necessary ideal or convenient, but wasn’t too bad. God was with me through it all, and He showed that to me. Psalm 34:17 The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. God was going to answer my prayer somehow. The answer could have been yes, wait, or no. But, God was going to answer my prayer. I had faith that He would. God has shown His love, mercy, patience, and kindness to me, countless times in my life. And for someone as imperfect, flawed, and stubborn as myself, I am eternally grateful for God’s patience.

God is always with us in our life. Whether we’re in a valley, or at the highest peak. It’s simply a matter of slowing down, and looking for God in whatever season in life we are in. Trust me, Jesus is right there with us in the thick of things. Just slow down and look. Luke 11:9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.