The Kind Of Power He Has 
By Jim Rule

My wife Peg and I were parked along the waterfront in Charleston, South, Carolina having lunch in the car. Before long, a couple of frumpy looking women, who appeared to be in their 30’s, came hurrying up to Peg and said they were locked out of their car. They had an extra set of keys in their motel room and had been trying to reach other family members but they were gone to the hospital and probably had their cell phone turned off. Did we have a coat hanger so she could try releasing the door lock?

In fact we did have a coat hanger with our jackets on it. They were happy to get it and hurried away. As we continued eating our lunch, I could see them in the rearview mirror several cars back working at the door. Every now and then I would glance back and they were still there, still trying.

I began to think, perhaps I should try to help. But I also knew fishing for levers down inside car doors with hangers has never been a procedure I understood or could execute. Of course, I realized I could offer to drive them to their motel to get the other set of keys. The problem was we were about ready to start our walking tour of the old city and it was supposed to rain later. Besides that, the boat tour of the harbor was leaving at 3:30 and we wanted to be back in time for that. The Lord and I began to have a debate. Eventually they would get through on the cell phone, I argued. They could call a police officer. They could ride the city shuttle back to their motel. I’d never get the thing unlatched with a coat hanger anyway.

After taking my time with my sandwich, dessert, and fruit, they were still there. I said to Peg, "I guess I’ll go and see if I can help," knowing I’d never get the door unlocked and I was committed for a major project. "Not having any luck," I said as I walked up to the distressed women. One was on the cell phone still trying to get through and the other fishing around inside the car with the coat hanger through the door that was partly ajar, trying to catch the latch on the door to unlock it. This was different than I expected. I could see how she might actually be able to release the latch with a wire hook. I watched her for some time but could see she didn’t have a good sense of how to shape the wire and manipulate it to catch the lever.

Finally the other woman gave up on the phone and took over. But she wasn’t showing much promise of success either. Finally I asked if she minded if I tried. I pulled the wire out, reshaped the end and put it back in. After a couple of attempts and a little more reshaping, I caught the lever and pulled it back, all in less than three minutes. "Try the door", I said, and it popped open.

"Praise Jesus!" one of them said. "Praise Jesus!" She was ecstatic! She thanked me with great delight and they were on their way.

As I walked back to the car, I thanked the Lord as well, not only for being able to do what I knew I couldn’t do, but for doing it so quickly. And we continued on with our day.

As I thought over that whole experience, I realized I needed to examine myself. I had been grateful to God for the assistance I had been able to provide after all for the women who were evidently sisters in the Lord. But there was more to this. I realized I could get down on myself for my selfishness in being reluctant to jump in and help right away. I had struggled with that and got involved very reluctantly.

But then the Lord spoke to my heart and revealed another possible response beyond gratitude for being able to help or self-condemnation for selfish desires. I could rejoice that the God who loves me and lives in me is able to overcome my selfish desires and my reluctant heart and move me to be and do what He desires. That’s the kind of power and love He has.

"Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 (RSV)