Pothole Prayers

It’s something we’ve all likely encountered at one time or another. Maybe even something that’s caused you a bit of grief, time or money if you met it head on.

I’m talking about potholes. One wrong turn of the wheel and you risk doing considerable damage to the undercarriage of your car, your tires, fenders or axles. But would you ever think of praying for God to put a pothole directly in your path?

I read an unbelievable story a couple of months ago about a pothole and an ambulance transporting a man suffering from a heart attack. The emergency vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a sizable pothole. The sudden jolt of the vehicle flying over the giant hole, caused the ambulance to fiercely jump and bounce, so much so, the rebound actually shocked the patient’s racing heartbeat back into a normal rhythm.

It’s likely that many people suddenly become tenacious prayers seeking a miracle when facing death. I don’t know if this man was a believer praying specifically for a pothole – but I’d wager even he was surprised by the immediate, yet unconventional miracle that saved his life.

After hearing this remarkable story, I read an internet article confirming that the miraculous pothole cure is indeed possible and is considered a rare phenomenon.

This story and the miraculous outcome serve as a great reminder that God is amazingly imaginative. I wouldn’t be surprised if he likes to mix things up occasionally just to keep us on our toes and make life interesting. Who would ever think to pray for such a specific outcome?

A close friend of mine was raised in a church that believed when praying, if you want specific – you have to pray specific. I personally adopted this attitude regarding prayer early on in my Christian walk.

God hasn’t always answered my prayers to my exact specifications – but in many instances – his supreme creativity and Lordship has answered my prayers in ways I couldn’t possibly even imagine praying for.

What problem has you weighed down? Are you praying about it? God’s Word tells us that we can come BOLDLY to his throne with our requests:

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

The Bible also reminds us: I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. Mark 11:24

I’ve had times when I’ve prayed for impossible situations. I WANT to believe God will step in, but at times my faith is lacking. Mark 9:24 tells the story of a father who suffers from doubt for his demon-possessed son’s healing. His words resonate in my spirit: “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

In the future when in doubt when praying – maybe I simply need to pray for potholes and let God be God. He’s only one prayer away.

Blessings in Christ,
Kathy K.