Casandra Martin

He was driving on a country road, almost to his destination, when the oil light came on. Before he could puzzle out why the oil light was suddenly illuminated, other warning lights started to appear on the dashboard. He pulled over, stopped the car, and did the best thing a boy can do – he called his dad.

Long distance, they talked through the situation and began sorting out the problem. Dad walked him through the steps to take as they investigated the trouble. God worked in the timing, location, and people to keep him safe. In the end, a tow truck came to the rescue and brought the car and the boy back home.

The next morning found the dad in deep conversation with the mechanic at the garage. A simple problem, but one that could have caused great harm if left unchecked for even a short time. “You were really lucky that he didn’t keep driving. It would have meant replacing the engine.” The boy’s willingness to stop and ask for help saved the day.

Listening in on dad’s side of the phone calls reminded me of an important lesson. It’s okay to ask for help. Our hearts have warning lights. Joy leaks out. Peace deflates. We find ourselves running low on love or patience. Too many times, I keep going. I don’t want to stop. I want to ignore the warning lights and pretend that it will all be fine later. I tell myself I can handle it on my own. The results are never good. I end up doing serious damage. Taking a moment to slow down and call for help just might save the day.

My Jesus Resolution today is to pay attention to the warning lights and ask for help. I don’t have to do life by myself. It’s okay to let others know when I need a hand, a smile, a prayer, or a hug. Contrary to what the world tells us, sharing those moments doesn’t make us look weak. It helps us be real, and in being authentic, God has room to shine.