Unexpected Help!

August 4, 2022

Unexpected Help!

It was an ordinary day and I was doing something very ordinary.  To be sure, I was not looking for exciting or exhilarating.  And yet, God has a way of opening unexpected opportunities.

I was filling our vehicle with gas at a Sam’s Club.  To activate the pumps, you insert your Sam’s Club card and then a credit/debit card.  The prompts are sometimes delayed so the process can be a little confusing.

As the tank was filling, a car pulled next to the pump on the other side of the one I was using.  I finished up, closed the gas cover, and was ready to get in our vehicle.  Suddenly, a man in his mid-30’s stepped over and asked if I could help him.  Actually, all he said was, “Help?”

Before I could say “No!” he handed me his Sam’s Club Card and a debit card.  As I stepped over to his side, I met his wife.  Again, he asked, “Help?”  He knew almost no English and she knew even less.  I assumed that he was having problems following the prompts on the pumps. 

I quickly learned that they wanted me to do everything for them.  I put on my teaching hat and tried to show them how it is done.  When the pump was ready to fuel his car, he said, “30!” 

I was not sure what he meant.  Again, he said, “30!”  I was a bit slow in understanding.  So, I looked over at his wife.  She did her best to say, “Dollars.”  I finally understood; they wanted $30 of gas. 

 As they drove away, I noticed he had an “In Transit” tag on their car; they had just purchased the car.  And, I noticed that he was a very timid (slow!) driver.  It looked like he was just learning to drive. 

They were a young couple who were new to the United States.  They had a new car but did not know how to put fuel in it.  They knew almost no English so had to be humble enough to ask for help.  And they did ask.

Their request was unexpected.  I was doing something very ordinary on a very ordinary day.  And then, the Holy Spirit gave me an opportunity to serve a young couple.

The joy that filled my heart was also unexpected.  I did something that made a difference for a young couple trying to do their best to make a life in Colorado.  I gave thanks to Jesus for the opportunity to serve someone in need.

But, it was the couple’s humble request and abundant gratitude that brought they most joy to me.  I am reminded of the occasion in which Jesus healed ten men with a dreaded skin disease.  He told them to go to the priest to receive confirmation they had been fully healed. 

Along the way, one of the ten turned around, went back to Jesus, and expressed his heart-felt gratitude to Jesus.  The man had asked for help with a humble heart and then expressed his indescribable gratitude to Jesus. 

In Luke 17:15-16 we hear; “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.  He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.”  The man changed his point of view, headed in a new direction, and kept his focus on Jesus.

I imagine that man experienced more joy than the other nine.  Like me at the gas pump a few days ago, his heart was filled with delight in what the Lord had done.  His heart was overflowing with joy.  Take a moment to follow the Spirit’s leading to help another person.  Jesus will fill your heart with delight.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug

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