Several years ago, I was a passenger in a friend’s car when we were hit at an intersection. I walked away with minor injuries—just some whiplash and a scar on my collarbone where the seatbelt caught me. My friend’s car didn’t make it. Thankfully, we did.
Help arrived within seconds. An ambulance crew had witnessed the crash and pulled over. They blocked the truck that hit us to prevent the driver from leaving, then ran to check on us. They made sure we were okay, handed my friend an ice pack, wrote up their reports, and moved on.
Minutes later, the police arrived with a cleanup crew. The officers were calm and confident. They asked questions gently and didn’t rush us when our answers were slow. They didn’t seem phased when it started to rain.
Their steady presence helped more than they probably knew.
As my friend made all the necessary calls, I waited in a nearby bus shelter, trying to stay dry. I picked up my phone and called someone I trusted—an older friend from church. I knew he’d come if he were home.
He answered groggily. I had clearly woken him from a nap. Still, he was by our side twenty minutes later. He insisted we go to the ER. He waited while we got checked out, then drove us home.
By the time we passed the crash site again, less than an hour had gone by. The road was clean. No glass. No fluid. The fire crew had already swept everything away. The car sat quietly, waiting for the tow truck.
The speed and compassion of everyone involved humbled me. But it got me thinking: what if the first responders had delayed their response? Perhaps they had something more enjoyable to do. I imagined this scenario.
“911. What’s your emergency?”
“There’s a robbery at First National Bank. Armed men. Hostages. Send help now!”
“Sorry. Officers are tied up until 3 PM.”
“That’s two hours from now! They have assault weapons!”
“Our apologies, but the SWAT team is having their annual barbecue. They’ve been planning this for a long time, and we don’t want to ruin their day. Want some crime-prevention flyers while you wait?”
“What good will that do? What am I supposed to do?”
“Please remain calm. Help will arrive at our earliest convenience.”
We’d never accept that kind of delay from our emergency services.
And yet, how often do we delay our response when God nudges us to help someone, even when it’s inconvenient?
Jesus told a story in Luke 10 about a man who’d been beaten and left for dead. Two respected religious men passed by without stopping. But a Samaritan—a stranger and outsider—took the time to care. He didn’t wait for the right schedule or circumstances. He acted.
“Which of these three proved to be a neighbour?”
“The one who showed mercy.”
“Go and do likewise.” —Luke 10:36-37
God’s timing rarely matches our calendars. His invitations don’t always arrive at convenient moments. But they come with a purpose.
It always seems that the days I set aside to write subsequently become the days when I receive the most emails and texts needing immediate attention. I have a choice to make. I can respond to those messages promptly and then return to my writing, or I can ignore them and wrestle with the guilt of possibly missing the Lord’s promptings. I’d rather live guilt-free, even if that means a few distractions along the way, especially when they aren’t convenient. What about you?
Thoughts to ponder:
Think back to a time when you stepped out to serve someone when it was inconvenient to you, but that act of service ended up being a blessing to all those involved, including yourself! Did you sense God’s pleasure? Did you deepen that friendship?
Sometimes, when we are called to serve at inconvenient times, those whom God asks us to serve take us for granted. It’s easy to become resentful in such a situation. How can we prevent that attitude from growing in our hearts?
Practical Application:
If you tend to procrastinate when the Lord draws your attention to a need, hoping someone else will meet that need, be that someone else this week. A few minutes out of your day will not only help them, but it will bring pleasure to your Father God’s heart as you step out in sacrificial obedience.
Until Next Week
©2025 Katherine Walden
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