Help in Times of Trouble

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He Will Provide / graphic artist unknown

Does God care about our everyday problems?

My answer from experience is always a resounding, Yes.

In 1993 I was attending Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY.  I lived about 30 miles from the seminary, it was a long commute on class days.  Anyone who has ever driven on I-64 through the Cochran Hill tunnels during rush hour knows that it’s not much fun.  At this time I was driving a Chevy van with a mind of its own. Too often the engine would die on me when traffic slowed down.  Most of the time it would start right back up, but I never knew for sure.  To this day, when I’m in bumper-to-bumper traffic and I cannot hear my car’s motor my heart sinks. I experience that old feeling of dread from my Chevy van days.

Help in Times of Trouble

Driving home from seminary one evening, I had just gone through the tunnel when traffic came to a sudden halt.  Guess what!  My car died right there on the interstate.  Car in front of me, car behind me, car on my passenger side, road shoulder on my driver side.  I turned the key in the ignition. Nothing.  Not even a little sound came from the engine. Traffic was beginning to move in front of me and knew I would soon be causing a terrible traffic jam in the middle of the interstate in Louisville, Kentucky.  I would be on the traffic report for sure.  I felt like crying and wished I could just sink down into the earth, van and all.

At this time I was 42 years and not in great physical shape.  I have never been one to work out.  I was in good health but not a strong person by any stretch of the imagination.  I was talking to God the whole time, asking Him to please start my van for me.  However, He did something even more remarkable. For some reason I still don’t understand, I decided to try to push my 4,000 pound vehicle onto the shoulder.  I put it in neutral, stepped out of the driver’s door, turned the steering wheel, and proceeded to slowly steer and push my van onto the shoulder and out of traffic.  I climbed back in and sat there astounded.  I wasn’t even winded.  No one helped me.  It almost seemed like I was invisible as people just drove right by me as I sat there watching.  After I waited a few minutes, I turned the key and it started right up.  I put on my blinker, merged into traffic, and drove home without further incident.

Why do I consider this to be more remarkable that my van just starting?  My van had started immediately after dying dozens of times, so that wouldn’t have been anything special.  However, for me to be able to push that large vehicle was a miracle.  I didn’t run over myself, and I didn’t end up hitting another car.  When the van was completely off the road and on the shoulder I quit pushing and it stopped without me hitting the brake.  If that’s not a miracle I don’t know what is.

Now, 24 years later, I still think about this incident.  I believe that God’s message for me that day was that I’m never alone—no matter the circumstance.  I don’t know if He sent an angel to help me push and steer or if He gave me the strength I needed to complete the task.  Whatever His means, I just know that in the years since, whenever I’ve felt helplessle or alone, He’s brought this memory to mind to reassure and comfort me.

If you are His child and are facing a trial big or small, ask Him to remind you of the times in your life when He’s protected you and provided just what you needed–just when you needed it.  Then trust Him to do the same today.  He will.

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About Ginny Holcombe

I am a daughter of the King! My relationship with Jesus is the best and most important part of my life. I love my family deeply and am extremely thankful for family and friends. My desire is for women to deepen their relationship with Jesus and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them through each day. I am a women who has been broken by life and circumstance, but I am also proof that there is a wonderful life after divorce when you allow God to be your provider, comforter, and guide. I am a daughter who is loved by her Father and I am a Mary who loves to sit at the feet of Jesus. I enjoy sharing the lessons He brings to my life on Facebook and my blog livinglifewithjesus.blogspot.com. I'm thankful to be given the opportunity to share what God is teaching me on MMCW. I pray that His love, grace, and mercy will touch you every day.

Encouraged? Share this post...

Ginny Holcombe

I am a daughter of the King! My relationship with Jesus is the best and most important part of my life. I love my family deeply and am extremely thankful for family and friends. My desire is for women to deepen their relationship with Jesus and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them through each day. I am a women who has been broken by life and circumstance, but I am also proof that there is a wonderful life after divorce when you allow God to be your provider, comforter, and guide. I am a daughter who is loved by her Father and I am a Mary who loves to sit at the feet of Jesus. I enjoy sharing the lessons He brings to my life on Facebook and my blog livinglifewithjesus.blogspot.com. I'm thankful to be given the opportunity to share what God is teaching me on MMCW. I pray that His love, grace, and mercy will touch you every day.

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