If there is one thing I’m convinced of (okay, not the one thing) is that God has a sense of humor. I’m pretty sure it’s in the Bible somewhere. So, maybe it’s not necessarily in the Bible but I fully believe He does. Case in point, so if you know one thing about it’s that I’m a procrastinator. I’m working on it, but it’s really hard to break a 23 year old habit….one day my fuel light came on in my car and like usually I kept driving around. Two days later (yes, I drove around for two days) I thought it may be time to finally fill up my tank. Well right before turning into the gas station another light on my dashboard came on, the giant red triangle of death with an exclamation mark, which is basically the car saying, “MAYDAY MAYDAY THIS IS NOT A DRILL!” As I turned into the gas station (yeah, I was that close) I began to pray… “please let me make it to the pump” over and over. I circle around once and no spots open, I circle around again, still no spot. I break out in a nervous sweat. I’ll just have to wait in line and pray my engine doesn’t die before I make it. I get behind a car and my engine shuts off…Well, that’s not good.. what do I do now?!…options began racing through my mind. Do I call my parents? Considering I’m on the other side of town and they always tell me to keep my gas at half to avoid this very situation from happening, I’m going to go with no. How about calling my friend who lives about 5 minutes from here? Sounds good, I’ll give her a call. Dial number. No answer. Panic sets in. It’s at that moment I look up and who should happen to be right in front of me but my college minister! Relief washes over me as a I run out of my car and explain the situation. He tells me he also happens to be with the college associate and my friend who I was trying to get ahold of just a few minutes before. Laughing at the absurdity of the situation that would only happen to me (because it was absurd and most definitely not a surprise that I was in this situation) they all helped me push my car the TEN FEET to the gas pump.
In that moment I realized a few things…
1. Sometimes living in a small town is awesome for situations like this one.
2. God always provides. He always takes care of us even in our stupidity like when we run out of gas because we waited until the very last possible second to get gas. He is still faithful and good and cares enough to provide even in the little things. (Let’s be real it was not a life-or-death situation so much as a I-very-much-put-myself-in-this-situation-because-of-my-procrastination situation.)
3. Sometimes His lessons come in humorous situations. I could totally see Him just shaking His head and laughing as my car rolled to a stop ten feet from the gas pump. It was a lesson in procrastination. A lesson I very much needed. It was a lesson given to me in the most loving, caring and hilarious way.
Do His is lessons sometimes come in a good-kick-in-the-butt kind of way? Absolutely. It’s tough love and unfortunately that’s sometimes what it takes to get our attention. Sometimes I also think they come in a gentle and loving nudges to remind you that you better get your life together before the situation becomes even worse. It’s so incredible that we get to serve a God that does both He is mighty but also gentle. He knows what we need and how to get our attention. He is always loving. So as I start getting ready for this next phase of my life I love how is preparing now for it. He will provide. He’s faithful in the small things and the big things. He also showed me, I really need to stop procrastinating…
Psalms 86:15 “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”
