Before we get into this, let\u2019s get one thing straight, if you ever see me on the side of the road with my hood up and me staring into that mess of nuts, bolts, and hoses, I can tell you what I\u2019m doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have no idea what\u2019s going on in there. I know enough that if there\u2019s a problem, it\u2019s probably coming from one of those thingamajigs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That particular inadequacy complicates another problem because it\u2019s tough for me to drive past a stranded motorist on the side of the road. Especially if I can see a mom and make out car seats, I\u2019m going to turn around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Very often the only thing I can do is offer my cell phone, but on occasion, it’s something simple like a flat tire, and I can get in the dirt and help a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I think the reason I\u2019m compelled to stop goes back to the fact that I know what it\u2019s like to sit on the side of the road. In fact, in my graduate school days, I remember pulling over for more than a flat tire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My car was on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There I stood, next to the inferno, backpack in hand, in awe\u2026 my sporty little Geo Metro engulfed in flames, and not a single person in that bumper-to-bumper nightmare on Interstate 20 smack dab in the middle of Fort Worth would pull over, slow down or even give me a pity wave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t till law enforcement saw my plight that I got a ride. You’d think that nothing could cause that day to get worse, but when the officer gives you a ride to class (at seminary) and your classmates and instructors see you being let out of a cop car\u2026 let\u2019s say; the day gets worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a horrible feeling to be stranded on the side of the road, in a dangerous place and feel like all those whizzing by don\u2019t care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re in that spot, it doesn\u2019t matter they\u2019re busy. It doesn\u2019t matter they don’t know what to do. Whatever their excuse is, while you\u2019re standing on the side of the road angry, scared, confused, it doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s the same in life. Sometimes our life breaks down and strands us on the side of the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Divorce, cancer, depression, unemployment, bankruptcy, betrayal, you name the hurt, we’re all stranded on the side of the road of life at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’m sure God\u2019s people felt the same way as they languished for 400 years as slaves in Egypt, and that\u2019s why a small passing paragraph in the book of Exodus mean so much to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDuring those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel\u2014and God knew,\u201d from Exodus 2:23-25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were hurting, and in those days all they could do was groan and cry out for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But their cries, \u201cCame up to God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it quite clearly says God heard, remembered, saw, and God knew!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same is true today. You may be broken down on the side of the road for any number of reasons. And it makes no sense why no one seems to stop and help. But, never forget, that when we cry out to our God, those prayers make it to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He hears, He remembers, He sees, He knows.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Before we get into this, let\u2019s get one thing straight, if you ever see me on the side of the road with my hood up and me staring into that mess of nuts, bolts, and hoses, I can tell you what I\u2019m doing. Nothing. I have no idea what\u2019s going on in there. I know … <\/p>\n