Ditch Pullers

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

A man decided to take a relaxing drive in the country side one day. All of a sudden, an animal ran out in the road in front of his car. He slammed on his brakes and swerved to miss the animal, but he ended up in a ditch. 

Fortunately, a farmer saw what happened and came to the man’s rescue, along with a big, powerful-looking horse. The farmer hitched the horse to the car’s bumper and yelled, “Pull, Nelly, pull!” The horse didn’t budge. 

Then the farmer yelled, “Pull, Buster, pull!” Nothing.

Then the he yelled, “Pull, Coco, pull!” But the horse still didn’t move.

Finally, the farmer said, “Pull, Buddy, pull!” And the horse responded by pulling the car out of the ditch with very little effort. 

The motorist was very thankful, but also inquisitive. He asked, “Why did you call out four names when your horse only responded to one?”

The farmer explained, “Ol’ Buddy is blind, and if he thought he was the only one pulling he wouldn’t even try.”

One of the blessings of a church family is that we have a lot of help when we feel like we are stuck in a ditch. When we face those inevitable trials, we can count on fellow Christ followers who embrace the burdens of others as their own. They come right along side of the weary with compassionate care, which strengthens those who are dealing with the difficulties of life. 

Compassionate Christ followers are there so that you aren’t the only one to extract yourself from the ditch. By the way, ditch recovery is much easier with the help of others. Or as the wise Solomon said, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” [Ecclesiastes 4:12 TNIV]. 

Look around you, dear Christ follower. It won’t take long for you to find someone who has driven into a ditch of difficulty. As you lend your strength, they will be encouraged, knowing that they aren’t pulling alone.

Let us consider how we may spur one another on…let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another...Hebrews 10:24-25