It was a good plan, this fundraising carwash to support the youth’s summer missions teams. They had chosen the best place: Just outside one of the region’s most popular stores. Even their timing was right, as winter was just over and the local cars all still carried their post-winter loads of salt and grime. Only one little problem: The weather didn’t cooperate! Oh, it was bright and sunny, but the thermometer dipped down below 10° Celsius (50° Fahrenheit), and a sharp wind blew from the north. Not exactly ideal weather to be working outside with water!

I could have put my foot down and forbid my boys from joining in. But with teens you choose your battles, and I knew that this one would only result in a war of attitude. Besides that, an opportunity for my boys to experience helping others would have been passed by.

Instead I prayed about it, and that night God encouraged me to join Him at work by buying these teenagers some hot chocolate and coffee. I was told, “It will brighten their day and encourage them more than you can ever know!”

In the morning, when my sons had been busily washing cars for more than an hour, my wife and I hopped into our car and headed for the local doughnut store. The server looked at us as if we were completely insane: “6 cups of hot chocolate and 6 coffees? Uh … Is it for here or to go?”

“Hmmmm. Let me think about it. To go, I guess.”

When we handed these cups out to the freezing car washers, we were greeted with excited smiles and exclamations. The beverages disappeared almost instantly, making us wish we had brought double the number of hot drinks! Our efforts also earned us the respect of the teens, who apparently were quoted as saying that we “rock”. Not what we usually hear, but a nice change, nonetheless! The credit however, belonged to God.

Going against the flow where God is at work is really not recommended. Not only will it make us feel miserable, but it will also render us vulnerable to deception and utter failure. This is especially true when trying to gain the upper hand with addictions. God is at work on our behalf to give us victory, that is for sure. But too often we resist Him and insist on our own way, which leads us to discouragement instead of experiencing victory.

It’s time we embrace God and acknowledge that He knows what is best for us, trusting Him fully that He will come through for us. Let’s join Him at work instead of hindering Him in what He is doing best. Instead, let’s just sit back and enjoy His fellowship. God is at work in us! Wow! Thank you Lord! You rock!

“And now we look back on all this and thank God, an artesian well of thanks! When you got the Message of God we preached, you didn’t pass it off as just one more human opinion, but you took it to heart as God’s true word to you, which it is, God himself at work in you believers!” (1 Thess 2:13 The Message)

“They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful – and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, “God is back, looking to the needs of his people!” (Luke 7:16 The Message)

“Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them – living and breathing God!” (Rom 8:5-6 The Message)

Would refreshing milkshakes be good for those car washers during the hot, steamy days of summer? God would know best!

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Fearless Victory!” devotional series, please click here.)