We were stranded 2 hours east of El Paso and were baking in the searing Texas sun.  The day started well.  We had 2 vans and a trailer full of gear, that belonged to our mission team. 

Our group was scheduled to rendezvous with the rest of the team at the San Diego airport, with the final destination being Rosarita, Mexico.  We were excited and ready to serve Jesus there by building a church, and by reaching kids through VBS and their mothers through a Bible study. 

Chuck was behind the wheel of the van pulling the trailer.   The scenery was brown and boring, but then there was something of interest.   The van was being passed by a lone tire.  And it was a fast tire – speedier than our 75 mph – and it was OUR tire.

We pulled over to check it out.  A cotter pin had broken on the trailer and the castle nut that secured the wheel had spun off.  The hub was mangled and so was our mission trip.

Our team was completely dependent on the materials we carried such as the camping gear for lodging, and the building and educational materials we planned to use.

Should we fail to show, all the training, money and prayers that had been invested would be wasted and the potential blessing to the folks of Rosarita lost. 

First task – find that essential castle nut.  Four of us backtracked our way down I-10 scouring the overgrown grass for a piece of metal smaller than a child’s fist.  A needle in a haystack would have been an easier quest.

We needed help!   Fortunately, Scripture says, “Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.” – Hebrews 4:16 – NETBible ®

Mark remembered and suggested that we pray.  The four of us circled up and bowed our heads there in the median of the interstate.   We prayed with an intensity that even the roar of the passing semis could not deter. 

At the sound of Amen, Jordan, one of our teens, opened his eyes and there at his feet was the castle nut.  Four parched mouths dropped open in amazement and in awe of our gracious God.

Did God find the nut and move it there while we prayed?  Or were our eyes blinded to it until we prayed?   Don’t know about all that, but we were sure grateful.    

There were, yet other obstacles to breach.  The studs had broken off the hub.  It would be impossible to find a new hub and nearly as impossible to repair the old one. 

Plus, it was late Friday afternoon – time for businesses to close for the weekend.  But we made some calls, found a service station that was within sight of us at the very next highway exit.    You had to have traveled west Texas to appreciate the magnitude of this miracle. 

The mechanic there agreed to stay late and help.  He called a parts store in another town.  They also remained opened late to sell him the new lugs and studs.  The mechanic welded and machined our poor hub that night until it was road worthy again and we were on our way. 

Thanks to God and the mechanic we made it to San Diego in time to pick up the rest of the team and launch our mission. 

But it took 4 helpless, hapless, highway vagabonds to stop and approach the throne of grace to see it happen.  The Lord was so generously faithful to provide mercy and grace in our time of need. 

He is still on the throne and available to you – anxious, in fact, to hear your voice and to provide that which you need.  Pray, whether it be in the middle of highway, or as you kneel by your bed.  He is ready to respond with a surplus of mercy and grace.     

A PRAYER: Lord, forgive us for searching for the castle nut first and You second.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you!