Saturday. It’s my “fixing things at home” day. Last Saturday was no exception. I had lots of jobs I was wanting to get done. I was on my way home from the hardware store and lumber yard with a trunk load of stuff to work on. My shopping took much longer than I had planned and I was in a hurry to get home and get to work. I was singing heartily:

“Is there anything I can do dear Lord,

Anything I can do,

For all that you have done for me,

Is there anything I can do?

I’m willing to be used dear Lord,

What e’er the task may be.

Is there anything I can do, dear Lord,

Just make it plain to me.”

Suddenly … as I turned the corner I saw a “damsel in distress”—two of them in fact!

Here was a van stranded at a red stop light with a woman in the driver’s seat and a teenage girl trying to push the vehicle across the street through a red light!

“Oh, no, I don’t want to stop and help,” I thought to myself. I’m already running late and have so much to do. Besides I have a sore back.” So I continued on my way.

Immediately a little voice inside my head said, “You hypocrite, Innes, singing ‘Is there anything I can do dear Lord … Just make it plain to me!’” And another little voice inside my head said, “And how much plainer do you want it to be?”

I think God has a sense of humor … “How much plainer do you want it to be?” My better sense won, so I turned back to help the ladies in distress. Fortunately another man stopped to help so we were able to push their van to safety off the main road.

I surely was glad that I stopped. The woman driver had just been beaten up by her husband and come from the hospital. Her face was a mess. There were several stitches on her nose and she had a black eye. Her husband was taken to jail and she and the daughter were left stranded. I had also been to the bank so gave this lady all the money I had on me. She wept. I asked her if I could pray for them. She said yes. We then called the local police who came to help.

I think God meant for me to be running late on Saturday … and I’m so thankful that I listened to the little voice inside my head! What a privilege it is to serve the Lord by helping those in genuine need.

Suggested prayer, “Dear God, I am available. Please help me always to be sensitive to those who need your help through me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer and using me in your work on earth. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Genesis 24:27 (KJV).