This morning I noticed an 18-wheeler truck coming down the road. These big trucks come down the narrow road that runs beside my home often to make their way to a nearby warehouse, so it’s not unusual to see one pass by. The only difference is today, while making the sharp turn to head to the warehouse, the truck turned too sharply and its back wheels ended up getting stuck, while the front wheels were coming off the ground slightly. As I sat watching from my window, I heard the Lord speak to my heart. I watched the driver tirelessly try to rev the engine up only to get nowhere. I saw some people stop to help. They were throwing gravel and sandbags under the tires hoping to gain traction. Nothing was working. Then the rain came. Everyone who was helping the driver left, and he still was there trying his best to get the truck unstuck.
At one point, he was able to get the truck to move a short distance. I’m sure in his head he was thinking, “This is it!” but he actually slid into a position where he was stuck even more. I could see his frustration building with every failed attempt. Trying to do it on his own, and even with the attempts of help from others, there was just nothing he could do to get out of this very frustrating, overwhelming, and now stormy situation. I’m sure at one point the driver was thinking to himself, “That’s it. I can’t do this anymore. I need to call for help.” A little while later, I noticed an even bigger truck come down the road. It backed it’s rig up to the other truck, and after sometime, pulled it out. I’m sure there was a sense of relief and the driver was happy it was over and he was free. I wondered if he wishes he would’ve called for help a lot sooner.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8
It reminded me of us Christians. How many times do we try to do things on our own, only to be left feeling defeated? I can personally say, I’ve tried to take matters into my own hands and it has never worked out the way I thought it would or should, much like the driver who thought he was gaining traction for that moment, only to slip into a more uncomfortable spot. Only when we realize that we cannot do this on our own, by our own ways and plans, is when we finally throw in the towel and call out for help. And that Help is our Heavenly Father.
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21
God knows how to get us 'unstuck' from any situation. All we have to do is call to Him, trust Him, and He will extend His hand and pull us out. We must completely surrender to His will and way and allow Him to do the work. The Bible tells us to lay our burdens down and find rest in Him.
'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'
Matthew 11:28
Isaiah 40:31, says;
'But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.'
We must be still and listen to His soft voice and trust Him. He knows the end from the beginning;
'Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:'
Isaiah 46:10
Cheer up, for favour is really ours.
