On waking I glanced at the clock. Oh no, I’m late for my 3.00 am watch. I jumped out of bed speaking in my heavenly language before my feet hit the floor.
“Lord why did You not wake me?” No point wasting precious time on this thought. My son’s life is at stake so with the time left I determined to focus on my mission.
I skipped the usual cup of herbal tea and pulled the curtains in preparation of welcoming in the new day which has become my new habit. I settled into fellowship with Jesus. A quick read of God’s Holy Word to bring everything into perspective revealed and confirmed that He is the Vine, and I am one of His branches. I relax. I am at my post. Even though I’m a bit late I’m here to keep watch. Most times I am wide awake. This morning however, I have a sense I am in danger of nodding off. A quick prayer to my Lord to fully wake me up and keep me alert is definitely in order.
As we fellowshipped, we were interrupted by Matt who was on his way to work. I heard him start his ute and rev it to go. However, he wasn’t going anywhere. He was stuck! He tried to get free a few times and then came to my door and shared this news with me, saying he was going to wake Mark (my son-in-law) to give him a pull. I continued in prayer adding the need to have this truck unstuck!
Mark hitched his four-wheel drive to the truck. They are revving and I’m praying, still at my post. The truck is still stuck! The chain broke. Now what? I begin thinking about the lack of power in my prayer. I left my post and went out to the scene. What a surprise. It wasn’t the ute that was stuck. It was Matt’s 4-ton truck fully loaded with the day’s merchandise which they were busy unloading to lighten the load. Not only that, but they also had to pull at an angle because my house was in the path of a straight pull. I apologised for my inability to help but shared that I was praying.
“Oh, yes please,” said Matt. “Please pray.” I commanded that truck to come unstuck and be released. Matt pipes up, “Oh, and while you’re praying can hold the light?” The light was on his phone. “This light isn’t enough and besides it will run your battery flat.”
“I’ll fetch Granddad’s big torch,” I told him.
Granddad was awake wondering what all the noise was about, so he took the light, and I went back to my post. The men fetched a big strong rope to replace the broken chain and although it didn’t break, the truck did not budge. More power was needed so they discarded the four-wheel for grandson’s 6-cylinder ute. As powerful as it is, it did not budge the truck.
They decided more power should be added to the ute, so they fetched the 4-wheeler and roped it to the ute which was tied to the truck. I stayed at my post. I was not tempted to watch them, but I could not help but hear them. The more noise they made the louder I prayed.
Granddad had the light, and he was positioned to give signals in accordance with the need. “STOP,” he cried, the ute is becoming stuck now as it tries to dig in. Put more power revs in the first vehicle.” So, the least powerful vehicle was added to the stronger vehicle. YES!
UNSTUCK TRUCK! PRAYER ANSWERED! Willing hands helped with the reload and I thanked God and rejoiced.
VAL STARES,
Gold Coast, QLD Australia
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Val is the Director of Above Rubies in Australia and has been working with me in this ministry since I began in September 1977.
Picture: Some of Val’s 26 greatgrandchildren.