God's Nudges

Saturday, August 31, 2002

Psalm 46:10 – Be still, and know that I am God. (NIV)

Recently we'd been in our apartment for a couple of days during a heat wave (smog advisory, humidex advisory, heat emergency), so we decided to go out in the air-conditioned car to do a couple of errands. As we stood in front of the elevator, I had this "nudge" to take a sun hat and change from my sandals to runners.

I usually try to heed these nudges from the Lord, but sometimes I'm in a hurry, they're contrary to my plans, or they just don't make sense to my mere mortal mind. This time, the heat in the hallway was stifling, and I was in a hurry. I justified not heeding the nudge because we were going to a mall, and I would just be dashing from the car to the mall's air conditioning — or so I thought.

On the way home, the car's engine started making an unusual noise, and, within another block, thick smoke started pouring out from under the hood and out of the exhaust pipe. We quickly found a quiet side street to pull into, and, with a sigh of relief and prayers for safety, stopped the car. The smoke had stopped, but all the fan belts were burnt. We'd blown a water pump. From our cell phone we called the Canadian Automobile Association for a tow truck, and were told the wait would be long.

A few minutes later, a city traffic control officer came along in his car and suggested we move the car out of the blind corner where we were parked. We demurred, but he insisted, and offered to help us push the car. Up until then, not one car had turned into this "quiet" street. He helped us push the car half onto the sidewalk. We thanked him, and he left, while we continued to wait. Since we weren't that far from home, we decided that I would walk, so off I started, in all that heat and humidity. I prayed all the way home that He would keep both of us safe. I also asked God for forgiveness for not listening to His nudge to take a hat and change my shoes.

As for my husband, the tow truck arrived shortly after I left, but, before it did, a school bus full of people roared around the blind corner of that "quiet" street where our car had been just a few short minutes before. I shudder to think what would have happened if God had not sent that traffic officer.

Let us always be mindful that we need to be still and listen for God, who speaks to us in the events of our lives and the lives of those we come into contact with.

Prayer: Forgive us, Lord, when we do not listen to Your quiet, still voice, even though we know that You love us enough to be interested in the "small" events of our lives. We ask You to keep our inner spirit at peace so we will be in a space to hear You when You speak to us. Amen.

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About the author:

Evonne Isaak
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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