Exercising trust little by little that Christ is alongside to help, the Jesus-follower grows resolved. He has gotten serious about seeing a turnaround in his life. But the parade of things needing turned around is long. He feels at times like a mechanic lacking tools.
A friend of mine traversing a long stretch of Uganda’s backcountry heard a loud and sudden ‘Pop’ toward the rear of his Peugeot. His heart sank as the tell-tale quivering of the steering wheel vibrated in his hands. “Oh boy,” he moaned, “a flat”. A troubled whisper then followed, “and here I am with no jack”.
Standing on the dusty roadway he surveyed the landscape. No sign of help.
A seeker after God offers an appeal, “Lord, change needs to happen here”. He names a vice or a struggle or perhaps a habit of negligence. “And so”, he prays further, “would you heal this or remove that or deliver me from the other thing there.”
Such an approach in prayer is admirable as far as it goes. The determined believer is getting specific. He aims to partner with the most helpful being in all the cosmos.
But the parade of obstacles is long, the struggles many. In time, weariness sets in. Discouragement follows and the sincere but beleaguered faith-pilgrim begins asking why? He concludes that life transformation that the scriptures promise may forever remain out of reach. A flourishing life of rest and joy in God to which he had once aspired has now taken on the look of a lifeless mirage hovering at the desert’s surface.
The struggling believer’s musings are not entirely off. Seeing marked change and growth in one’s life for the good does not typically come, for instance, by voicing bold claims through gritted teeth. Enduring transformation can’t come by merely working on habits or struggles as they pop up, only to see them pop up again, then yet again. Not apart from some useful means. A few tools of the trade kept within easy reach can prove game-changers.
A distinct stirring sounded from a grove of bushes lining the remote Uganda road. Smiling a greeting to the young African males approaching, he was soon directing them to a strategic spot along the car’s edge. A few “heave-ho’s” followed by a sustained rumble of soft gruntings from the sturdy youth, soon yielded a freshly-mounted spare tire. Hard candies conveniently kept in the missionary’s console got dispensed. Laughter ensued, and with an arm-wave of thanks my friend drove off.
©2022 Jerry Lout
Such a beautiful post with so much meaning. In fact, this may be my next journaling prompt: “A flourishing life of rest and joy in God….”
Thank you (coach) RJ. The affirmation is priceless. Flourishing has, of late, risen near top of the vocabulary heap for me in the ‘highly-treasured-term’ category
Thank you for a lifetime of inspiration, m y friend.
Very humbled by your comment, Walter. Thank you. Offering up in response a most sincere, “Back at you”
Had to smile when reading Jerry Lout’s mentioned of an experience I had in Africa! I was returning from Congo having had a pastor’s conference with our African brothers. The journey was long and the road was difficult! All of a sudden one tire exploded and my jack was broken and what does one do replace the tire?? God always provides……The Lord gave me an idea…..I quickly made a uturn and went to the far side, almost in the ditch, to where the side with the flat tire the car was on the high side! A group of boys just happened to be walking there and came quickly asking if they could help. They picked up the car as I replaced the tire all in short order! In preparation for the trip I often bought small bags of hard candy placed under the seat for just such situations! The boys were all expecting a ‘reward’ for their help! I pulled out a bag of candy and all were excited to receive something that was not readily available to them!
Good hearing from you, Granger. Indeed, that was quite the story!