I was headed back home at the end of a long day.  I was about 34 miles away from home and my gas tank was running low.  According to the info on my odometer, I had enough gas in the tank to go about 38 miles.  That was just enough to get across town and stop at the gas station next to my house.  On a normal day, in a normal city, everything would be all right.  However, this was not a normal day and I don’t live in a normal city.  This was the day after Halloween and I live inAustin,Texas.  And on this day, Austindrivers were at their best.  The ride home was full of stop and go traffic (more stop than go); multiple wrecks, and one knucklehead zipping in and out of the traffic near the university, causing everybody else to slam on their brakes and honk their horns.  All of the honking led to Mr. Knucklehead saluting the rest of the traffic letting them know that he thought the Longhorns were number one.  Come to think of it, this was a normal day in Austin,Texas!

The circus on the highway was cutting down significantly on my gas mileage.  It soon became evident that I was not going to be able to get all the way across town after all on the remaining fumes in my gas tank.  The number of miles showing on my odometer which remained before I had to stop and fill up the tank were dropping faster than the S&P 500.  As I prepared to pull over at the next exit to get gas, it dawned on me that I had left my billfold at home.  Oh no!  As I looked at the odometer again, I knew that I would not be able to make it all the way to my house to get my wallet before I ran out of gas.  I couldn’t call my wife because she was at Zumba and she would never hear her cell phone because they play the music loud enough so that you can’t hear the new people gasping for air. I tried to think of someone I knew who lived in the south side of town that I could call who might loan me a couple of bucks for gas so that I could get home for the night.  I remembered one friend I had not seen in several months who only lived about 5 miles away.  I gave them a call on their cell and I couldn’t believe it, they were out shopping and they weren’t 5 miles away, they were just around the corner!  I quickly explained my situation to them and how my odometer was now down to only 1 more mile!  They promised to meet me at the next gas station.  By the time I got off the phone, the odometer said zero but I was blessed to be able to pull in to the gas station right up next to a pump!

My friend met me there and gave me $10 which provided more than enough gas to get me back home.  We laughed about the situation and talked for a little while as we caught up on how our families were doing.  Not only did my friend rescue me but we were able to enjoy a good visit together.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends!  As I look back on that episode, I am reminded of a couple of things.  One, I am still the poster child for Adult A.D.D.  And two, no matter what challenges we have the Lord does a magnificent job of taking care of us!  David said it like this in Psalm 145:18 – 19

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.  Psalm 145:18 – 19

So many times in life we make our plans and think we are in complete control.  We think we can make it across town and through traffic on just a little bit of gas in our tank but pretty soon we find we are running on empty.  We think we will go to plan B but then we realize our resources are not enough.  We have left our wallet at home; and some weakness, some flaw or some unintentional error has but us in a bad situation, one where we are about to be stranded.  It is at those times in our lives when we call upon the Lord.  We hope and pray that just maybe He can make it to us in time to rescue us and help us out with just enough gas to make it home for the night.  My experience with the Lord has always been very similar to my experience with my friend.  The Lord is always near to those who call.  He is never miles away, He is always just around the corner.  He is always willing to come and rescue us.  And not only will He come and rescue us but He loves to spend time and fellowship with us.  He loves for us to catch up on old times.  He does not rebuke us for not having called Him sooner.  There is no chastisement or any guilt trips.  There is never any, “Well, well, well.  I haven’t heard from you in a while.  You must need something.”  The Lord is always willing to take your call even when it comes as a result of some distress.  And like my friend, the Lord never gives us just enough to get home, He always fills our tank. The Apostle Paul said it like this in Ephesians 3:20 – 21

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord will always exceed your expectations.  You can count on the Lord.  He always has your back.

If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can send me an email directly at pastorpstephens@aol.com