This is the third part in my series on 5 life lessons that I learned from Labor Day weekend in 2005, while volunteering with efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
It was the end of our first day working at the River Centre shelter. We’d driven through the night the day before and I was now working on only about 6 hours sleep for the past 48 hours. I was exhausted and at the end of my rope. But, we now had a 5 year old boy latched onto us who needed some love and attention.
His mother had left the shelter that morning around 10a and he didn’t know where his mom was. It was now about 9 hours later and we didn’t want to leave this boy alone. I’d already sent most of our team off to find the place where we were supposed to be sleeping, but now after searching for his mom for about 90 minutes I was at the end of what I could handle.
In selfish desperation, I said a short prayer…
Lord, if there’s any way possible, it’d sure be nice if this boy’s mother could show up here in the next couple of minutes.
Literally about 90 seconds later I see 2 women walking in and this boy going to them. It was the boy’s mother and aunt. God had answered my simple prayer. I couldn’t believe it. The timing was just too weird to not have been God’s personal response to me.
So, why do I tend to only turn to God and ask for his help as a last resort? Why do I think I have to solve things on my own and exhaust all other resources, before turning to God? It’s either that I don’t trust him, or I’m too proud to feel like I need his help. Either option is stupid.
Lord, help me to come to you with my daily needs. Help me to trust and depend on you in both the little and big stuff of life. Without you I’m not all that hot, and I need your help.
Do you have any stories of when God answered a really simple prayer of yours? Do you have trouble asking for help with the simpler needs in your life?