Billy Coffey
Billy Coffey

Waiting on a miracle

April 23, 2010  

image courtesy of photobucket.com

image courtesy of photobucket.com

She stands in the parking lot flashing the universal sign of hopeless surrender—arms crossed, head down, foot tapping. Beside her is what remains of her car, a once useful tool that is now dead on arrival. She’s figured out how to raise the hood and prop it up. Unfortunately, that seems to be the extent of her mechanical know-how.

So I walk over and say, “Afternoon, ma’am.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” she says. Then, as if to clarify, she points to the open maw of her sedan and says, “Stupid car.”

“Someone on the way?” I ask her.

“No. Can’t get hold of anyone.”

I nod. “Mind if I take a look?”

“Be my guest.”

I peek under the hood and check the usual suspects. Battery cables are good. Belts are fine. Plenty of coolant and oil.

“Will it turn over at all?” I ask.

“It acts like it wants to start,” she says, “but then it get stubborn.”

I step around her, climb into the driver’s seat, and turn the ignition. The car sputters and churns, then dies.

“Huh,” I say to no one.

Then, just as I’m about to give up, I check the gauges. Temperature, battery, and oil pressure won’t tell me much if the car isn’t running, but the last gauge will.

“I think I know what’s wrong,” I say.

“What is it?”

“You don’t have any gas.”

There is a pause, then a very quiet, “Oh.”

I climb back out. The two of us stand over the car like it’s a casket at a wake.

“Want me to call the gas station?” I ask her. “Maybe someone can run a can of regular down here. Or I could go get you some.”

She doesn’t answer me, which isn’t so strange. But she raises her face and hands skyward, which really sort of is.

“In the name of Jesus Christ the Risen Savior, I command this car to start!” she screams. Then she looks at me and says, “Try it.”

“Ma’am?”

“Try to start it again.”

The thought occurs to me that I am in the presence of a crazy woman.

“Everything is possible with the Lord,” she says, Lord coming out as Lawd. “I prayed in faith, and if faith can move a mountain, then it can sure get my car started and get me where God needs me to be. So try to start it.”

“Um, ma’am,” I say. “God ain’t gonna put gas in your car. Havin’ faith doesn’t mean you have to lose your head.”

“TRY. IT.”

Okay, fine.

I climb back into the car and turn the ignition. Nothing.

“Maybe you should be the one turnin’ the key,” I say through the windshield. “I reckon I just don’t have enough faith.”

“Fine,” she says. “Step aside.”

I do. She tries. No go.

“Would you like me to go get you some gas, ma’am?”

“No,” she says. “Thank you, but I’ll wait. God will send someone along.”

I let the fact that I just might be that someone slide, told her I was sorry and to have a good day, and left. As I pulled out of the parking lot I looked in the rearview mirror. She was standing in front of the car with her hands to the sky again, no doubt casting out the demons of fuel consumption.

Maybe I’m being too hard on her, I think to myself. But then again, maybe not. Because not only did that lady waste about fifteen minutes of my life, she also set a pretty bad example for Christians.

Yes, God can do anything. And yes, faith can move mountains. Put the two of them together, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if somewhere in the history of humanity, a car managed to get where it needed to go without any gas.

But that’s not the norm.

Sometimes I think we count on a miracle too much. That sometimes we trust and believe that God will provide so we won’t have to do as much as He expects from us.

Because God is more than willing to get us where He needs us to go, and faith will help get us there.
But it’s up to us to make sure the tank’s full.

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Comments

  • http://duane-scott.net/ Duane Scott

    I’m pretty sure my prayers have been enough to get me to the gas station a couple times before, but you are right, this forceful demanding of a miracle, is just wrong.

    Interesting story!

  • http://hikingtowardhome.blogspot.com Just a lass hiking with Jesus

    My jaw dropped open.
    ““No,” she says. “Thank you, but I’ll wait. God will send someone along.”
    I let the fact that I just might be that someone…”
    Wonder how long she waited or if she ever realized you were clearly sent and she missed it completely.
    “and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if somewhere in the history of humanity, a car managed to get where it needed to go without any gas.”
    I know 3 friends to whom it happened… but only to get them to where He had a gas can waiting… a few miles, and there was a gas can waiting in the most unusual place.
    Good post. Pardon me, I need to go fill my tank now… before little feet start pitter-pattering…

  • http://keepingon.launchrocketship.com Kay

    Sounds like her “praying in faith” is coupled with a bad attitude. Not sure how those go together . . . .
    I’ve witnessed God provide for my college bill in so many different ways, but sometimes His provision is giving me work to do. Sometimes His provision is the college letting me go longer than they usually allow without having a payment made. Sometimes His provision is, in fact, through anonymous donations that have been made to my account. Sometimes through people I do know. God’s provision isn’t always miraculous, but it is always providential.

    Reminds me of a story I heard once (good grief, I’m practically writing my own blog entry here!) of a man trapped in a flood who prayed, “God, save me!” A man came over in a motor boat and said, “Hey, get in!” The first man said, “No, thanks, God is going to save me!” After arguing for a big, the second man left. Then a woman came over in a canoe and said, “Hey, get in! You’ll drown if you stay here!” The man said, “No, thanks, God is going to save me!” She eventually left too. Soon, a child in a little dinghy came over and said, “Mister, get in!” The man said, “No, thanks, God is going to save me!” So the boy left and the man drowned. When he got to heaven he said, “God, why didn’t you save me?” God said, “I sent you three boats! What more did you want?”

  • http://rmabry.com Richard Mabry

    Billy,
    Great post that will leave me (and a bunch of your readers) thinking for the rest of the day about putting feet and hands to our faith. Thanks so much for sharing.

  • http://twitter.com/jpwire Jay

    Thank you for reminding me that the answers to our prayers are not always the ones we were asking for. Sometimes they are right in front of us and we turn them down because they aren’t what we demanded from God.

  • http://www.ubervu.com/conversations/www.billycoffey.com/2010/04/waiting-on-a-miracle/ uberVU – social comments

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by duane_scott: Waiting on a Miracle. New post by @billycoffey http://bit.ly/9JF1A5 /via @katdish…

  • http://hisfirefly.blogspot.com HisFireFly

    Thanks Billy.

    I wonder just how often we are indeed the answer to someone’s prayer but they (or we) don’t recognize us as such.

    Our awesome and powerful God does tend to move and work through imprefect human vessels, even to perfom His miracles.

    Pray that she listens to His voice and learns to keep her eyes open.

  • http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com Joyce

    Wow…that story made me a little bit sad. I’ve been there (broken down on the side of the road) and I’m pretty sure I considered the older gentleman who stopped to help as my answer to prayer. Sometimes God answers our prayers in spectacular fashion and sometimes He answers our prayers in a completely practical manner. In the case of an empty gas tank I think practical is good. Too bad she missed that.

  • http://www.thisrestlessheart.com/ Kelly Langner Sauer

    Oh sigh. She knew the “faith” but not the God-who-provides. Still, I wonder how often we fall into a “God-helps-those-who-help-themselves” mentality while we “fill our tank?”

  • http://www.moonboatcafe.com Cassandra Frear

    This post poignantly shows your point. I like what Don Miller says, that we partner with God in building things and growing things. That’s the way He works.

    I did send you a tweet, BTW about the blog post that came from the comment I left on your last post. I left a link there for your post, too. If you didn’t get a chance, you can check it out at http://www.lighformylamp.com.

    Your last post started a thinking process that has deeply affected me. It pushed me to get to the core of my own hesitating. I don’t have any easy answers, but I know what I’m up against and why I must move forward. I am moving at a rapid pace now, with large strides. Not anything amazing, but it’s better than standing still.

    Faith is harder than we think it will be.

  • http://www.tulipgirl1979.blogspot.com/ Katie

    Wow, I’ve hear scenerios like that in sermons but didn’t know people actually did that.

  • http://www.sonlightblog.com/ Luke Holzmann

    Ah, the tension of faith and works…

    Good post [smile].

    ~Luke

  • http://briancrussell.net bman

    Great story! I’ve run out of gas one time… with my wife in the car… needless to say it was a horrible experience. I was really hoping for a miracle there, but in reality, I just should’ve listened to my wife.

    The word, “humbleness” comes to mind. That God’s not a vending machine, and you worship Him, not the other way around.

  • Jim H

    This is good, Billy – I must admit my mind wandered to a joke about the same thing happening to two visiting nuns and the only container they had in the car was an empty bedpan…… I’m sure you can surmise the rest.
    Thanks for reminding me that not all of God’s ways are mysterious – He can get very practical with us and we just need to accept his providence for what it is, no matter what guise it comes in.

  • http://www.dhpinreview.wordpress.com,www.pursuingthewind.blogspot.com Katy

    So true! And, like you said, you were probably God’s answer to prayer.

    God often works through humans to bring about what He wants. The Jews looked for a superhuman warrior king, and didn’t recognize the Divine King in human flesh who died for them. Likewise, we want God to move mountains, but sometimes He has asks us to start shoveling.

  • http://katshappyathome.blogspot.com Kathy

    YOU were the someone God sent. Why couldn’t SHE see that?

  • http://www.keligwyn.com Keli Gwyn

    Billy, I don’t think that woman wasted 15 minutes of your life. She gave you fuel for this story with a message we all need to hear from time to time. God isn’t about quick fixes and silver spoons. We have to reach out in faith and do our part.

    Even though the woman didn’t welcome your help, I think it’s great that you offered. It’s sad she was unable to see that you were the someone sent to to help her.

  • http://www.ordinarilyextraordinary.com/ Amy Nabors

    I do think God can still perform miracles, but most of the time I think he uses others to help us. Just yesterday I was having a discussion with a friend about about waiting on God’s plan, but also not just doing nothing.

  • http://blog.breakthroughalaska.com jasonS

    Oh, these sorts of things drive me bananas- although I’m sure I’ve been just as stubborn or unthinking when God sent my help before too. Thanks Billy.

  • http://soiledwings.com Sherry Meneley

    Awesome post ! Just shared on FB.

  • http://www.randommusings-helen.blogspot.com Helen

    I suspect she did not have any money for gas, and was ashamed to admit it.
    I also suspect that God DID send you, and that He meant for her to overcome her shame.

    Years ago, two men helped me out in a similar situation when I was driving with mom. It wasn’t gas, but some other problem they fixed. I had nothing with me to offer them as a thank you. I believe God sent them to yes, first of all help me and mom get on our way, but also to learn how to receive grace.

    Poor woman was asking for grace, but still didn’t know how to receive it.

  • http://cheriehillblog.blogspot.com Cherie

    You know, your posts never cease to amaze me. God is truly taking you on a journey…and we are all blessed that you share that journey with us!
    Blessings!
    Cherie

  • http://heathersunseri.blogspot.com Heather Sunseri

    How do you do it, Billy? Very funny! Reminds me of the story you wrote about the lady at the shopping mall who wouldn’t let you hold the door open. I still think of that one from time to time. People amaze me.

  • http://sandraking-beholding-god.blogspot.com/ Sandra Heska King

    “In the name of Jesus Christ the Risen Savior, I command this car to start!” she screams. Then she looks at me and says, “Try it.”

    Sorry, I totally lost it here. I have to go back and read the rest. After I get the tissues to wipe my eyes. Shame on me.

  • http://dutchhillnews.blogspot.com Annie McMahon

    Hah! Very timely. Thank you. : ) Your blog is my miracle.

  • ginger (daylilie222)

    Another brilliant post from a great story teller. I agree.. Ive prayed to get to the gas station on time..and even witness the miracle of making it there, but she really had no clue she rejected her own personal angel.

  • http://rlcblog.com Dusty Rayburn

    I’ve commented before how when we paint a pretty little box and stick God in it, we often miss how God is actually working in our lives..

    Thank you for the reminder.

    Another thought concerning the lady…
    Read Daniel 10 – Prayers were lifted and heard, God commanded an angel to intervene, but the angel was detained for 21 days… Answers to prayer are not always immediate even when they are “yes”.

  • http://theextraordinaryordinary.blogspot.com Heather of the EO

    You are one of my favorite people on the internets. *wink* (it’s true)

    Loved this, Billy.

  • http://aspiretoleadaquietlife.blogspot.com A Simple Country Girl

    I reckon Charlie and this woman would have a good, long talk if they met one another…

    Indeed God makes the wheels go ’round, but we need to put the rubber to the road first. Well that, and fill up the tank.

    Blessings.

  • http://godsheart-heart2heart.blogspot.com Kat

    Billy,

    Great post! God loves a faithful heart but we have to be willing to take the first step, He isn’t going to do it all for us. In this case add gas to an empty tank.

    Did you go back and bring her gas? Just curious?

    Stop by when you can, I miss seeing you.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

  • http://www.teawithtiffany.com Tiffany Stuart

    Thought provoking as always.

    God asks for our cooperation. Faith is action. Walking. Stepping. Or even in this case, filling a tank.

    Miracles do happen when we do our part and trust God to do the rest.

    He is worthy of our praise all the time! Full or empty.

  • http://debholmes1.blogspot.com Deb

    Aah yes… faith without works.

    Reminds me of the story about the guy who was stuck on his roof during a flood… a man rowed by on a boat and offered to take him to safety and he shouted back, “No, it’s OK… God will save me!”
    Next, a bigger boat came by and the man responded in the same way. After he refused help from a helicopter claiming that “God” was on His way, the waters rose too high and the man drowned.
    When he got to heaven, the man questioned God. “God, I prayed and believed you would come and rescue me…. why didn’t you?”
    God replied, “I sent two boats and a helicopter… how much more help do you need!!”

    As you said: “Sometimes I think we count on a miracle too much. That sometimes we trust and believe that God will provide so we won’t have to do as much as He expects from us.”

    Another great post, Billy!

  • http://www.maryaalgaard.blogspot.com Mary Aalgaard

    That is such a great analogy. I have a friend with a similar experience. Hers was not tangible, like a car needing gas, but similar in that it was a friend needing counsel. My friend has had a similar experience. She shared it with this woman. She couldn’t connect the dots. She even said, “I just wish I knew someone who has gone through this.” My friend said, “It was like I wasn’t even there, or had not said one word.” Sometimes we need to be able to hear what people are saying.

  • http://pandkmcgrath.blogspot.com Karen McGrath

    Yeah well, one day I was waitressing and went to the milk machine to pour out a glass for a customer. Got it just fine while my coworker’s mouth fell open and she nearly fainted. When I came back from delivering the glass of milk to my station, I was just in time to see the bus boy hoist the new bag of milk into the machine.

    So that means I got milk from an empty milk machine.

    God is in the business of miracles.

    Don’t knock it cause it ain’t the norm for you. It is the norm for HIm.

  • http://wendyjanelle.blogspot.com/ Wendy @Sun-Kissed

    “…so we won’t have to do as much as He expects from us.”
    Exactly. God is not our genie in a bottle.

  • http://lexiconluvr.blogspot.com L.T. Elliot

    I’ve often discovered that God’s answer usually IS in the form of other people. Sadly, I probably don’t recognize it as much as I should. Another gem, Billy, just as radiant as the rest.