We were in a jam because we had dragged our feet. It was our fault. I had shown Mike the crack in the top frame of our aquarium a while ago and at that time we had decided to wait and see. Even though we saw the crack daily, neither of us really paid attention, and now the crack had grown into a split – a full-on split that was jeopardizing the welfare of our tank!
We were in uh-oh mode as both of us got on the web searching for information on what to do to resolve the situation.
“Crap,” I eventually moaned.
“What?” Mike asked.
“It looks like top frames aren’t replaceable anymore. We’d have to fabricate one ourselves!”
“I can do that but it’s going to take me some time.”
“What are we going to do in the meantime? Do the trash can thing?” In the past, we had used a trash can to house our fish a few times in emergency situations.
“They can’t stay like that for long though. We might have to look for a new tank.”
“What?!”
So, we got on it but the choices for aquariums in our area were slim. Dejected we headed home to research buying a new tank online, but geez they are pricey!
“Check Craigslist or one of the other websites like that!” Mike excitedly suggested.
“Good idea! I didn’t even think of that,” I commended him as my fingers started typing.
Within minutes, we found a comparable tank that had just been listed about six hours earlier that same day. It was still available, cost effective, and it was just a few miles away!
“Thank you, Jesus,” I exclaimed then told Mike, “I didn’t even think to stop and pray through that. I just went on autopilot thinking we had to figure out the solution. But the Lord already had us covered.”
“I prayed,” Mike simply said.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” – 1 John 5:14 ESV
What if Mike hadn’t prayed, I wondered? Would we have missed that blessing?
“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him;
and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJ
My failure to turn to the Lord in our time of need got me thinking about biblical characters who made poor choices because they did not consult the Lord and ask. King Saul came to the forefront of my mind because currently I’m studying the book of First Samuel. King Saul ran on his own thinking a lot – he was an impatient control freak to his own demise (1 Sam. 15). When I study accounts like King Saul’s afterward, I often pray for my own relationship with the Lord and ask that I don’t miss what He expects of me. But still, I often fail.
Thankfully, believers in Christ have available to us something that King Saul didn’t have in his times, the covering blood of the highest King – King Jesus.
“In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.”
Ephesians 1:7-8
Think of the disciples, they had Jesus right there with them, and when Jesus needed prayer, they fell asleep during His time of need (Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1-2). Prayer is usually the first choice I make, especially in an unknown situation. Why not this time?
“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41 ESV
It convicts me that I didn’t pray in the case of our aquarium. Thankfully, my default to repent came through, which I did along with lots of praise! And I only beat myself up for a moment because the confidence of the Lord’s forgiveness is instilled in me, and I know that His correction and instruction are for my good.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:15-16
Recent Comments