Meeting God on Garth Street

With only a few minutes drive, but a good hour walk back to the campus, the bus, filled with university students coming home from church, suddenly rolled to a stop. The driver had no idea what had happened.  The bus was in good working order, or should have been.  Checking under the hood, while the students exited the vehicle to help push it out of the way, the driver saw no apparent mechanical reason why the engine refused to run.

With it being Sunday, service would take awhile. Several students immediately began walking back to the university, (those who were in a hurry and couldn't wait for God), while others continued praying for that bus to start up again.  I mean, wouldn't that have been the easiest fix.  The Lord could miraculously repair the fault, the driver would turn the key, and off they'd go.  Instead the Lord showed these students His care and provision in another way.

In about five minutes another school bus rolled along.  Did you get that...five minutes!  The other amazing thing...it was empty!  EMPTY!  And remember, this bus had been completely full.  Also, it's Sunday!  You just don't see empty school buses driving around on Sunday.  Only the Lord could have inspired this driver to come down this exact residential street at this exact time, minutes after a recognized need.

This driver slowed her bus down and hollered out, "Do you need help?  Where are you going?  Can I drive you?"  She didn't ignore the need.  She didn't just say she'd call for help.  She went out of her way to take a bus full of university students back "home", and in the process these young people saw a God who hears and answers prayer.

A sweet Samaritan prompted by a loving God.  I don't know if this rescuing bus driver knew the Lord personally or not, but the Lord used her to minister to a group of students.  He wanted them to see that He cares about every detail of their lives.  He desired them to experience a God who provides.  He longed for them to recognize that His Word is true when He says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." Psalm 50:15

How do I know the Lord was glorified through this story?  I Skyped with my son last night.  He was one of the university students on the bus.  It was with great enthusiasm and delight he shared this story, tinged with a hint of pleasure as he spoke of riding by and waving to those who had given up on God's provision too soon. (OK...maybe that was bad, but come on, you would have found some delight in that too!)  Actually, this shows the heart of the bus driver.  She pulled over and stopped, giving these students a second chance.  Again...how like God.  Even when we don't wait for Him in some of the choices we make, He is still our Redeemer and quick to forgive, stopping to pick us up along the way. Grace extended to the undeserving.

God longs to show Himself to us and He can use broken buses to draw our hearts to recognize Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides.

Lord, thank You for caring for my guy while he's away from home.  Thank You for giving him personal God-stories that strengthen his faith and deepen his walk with You.  May he never view these divine interventions as chance or coincidence.  Lord may this stir his heart to trust You even more and long to know You and love You with all his heart.

PS. Turned out the bus had a faulty gas gauge. It was registering enough gas, while in actual fact the tank was empty.  Probably another lesson there *smile*.  How often do we keep our emptiness hidden by a "faulty gas gauge"...but that's a post for another day.