God At The Gas Station

God at the Gas Station

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20

It was an icy, cold day in early December, and it was our family’s turn to post an act of kindness for the day on social media. As our car crunched over snowy, icy roads on our way into town, Tim and I brainstormed kindness ideas. We eventually concluded that we’d like to bless someone in the military since it was the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

“What are the odds we’re going to find a person in the military, in uniform, on a day like today?” Tim mused.

To be honest, it seemed unlikely. After all, the population of the town we were cruising through was only a little more than seven thousand. And on such a gloomy winter day, no one seemed to be out and about. We prayed that God would reveal someone for us to bless.

We pulled into a gas station to fill up our tank and sat waiting patiently for an opportunity to bless someone. To our delight, within just a few minutes, a man in uniform pulled up to the gas pump. Tony, a husband and father with a bright smile, was in the navy, and he was heading to Florida for six months. Although he originally seemed surprised by Tim’s request to allow us to pay for his gas, Tony agreed and stood chatting for a few minutes about his family and experiences in the armed forces. My husband shook Tony’s hand, pumped his gas, and thanked him for his service. As Tim hopped back into our vehicle, rubbing his hands together to restore their warmth, he told me that it was one of his favorite things that we’ve done for someone else.

Sometimes my prayers to God feel more like a last-ditch effort rather than my first response. I believe that God answers prayer, but sometimes I try to do things on my own rather than turning to him first. Yet it’s experiences like this one that remind me, time and again, that God is able to work through us to accomplish more than we can imagine. In return, our faith and our trust in God can be bolstered even by the smallest details of life, as his love for us shows up in unlikely places.

—Kristin

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Thank someone who has served and protected our country or communities. This could include servicemen or servicewomen, police officers, or firefighters.