No Problem Is Too Small. Just Call.

At 2 a.m., I awake to the sound of my chocolate Labrador, Lucy, barking incessantly. After sniffing the air, the problem is clear: She has a skunk cornered in the backyard.

Although I know Lucy won’t retreat without human intervention—been there; done that—I pull the covers over my head and hope she will. I’m just too tired to deal with her tonight.

An hour later, however, the barking hasn’t ceased, and my head is about to split.

Dragging myself out of bed, I venture into the kitchen and crack open the back door. As expected, Lucy is in the far north corner, rear skyward, antagonizing her captive prey.

“Lucy, come!” I yell.

She glances my direction, but she doesn’t come. In fact, the sound of my voice seems to reenergize her resolve.

BARK! BARK! BARK! BARK! BARK!

After a lengthy time of hollering, whistling, spraying the water hose and rattling a few dishes, I do the unthinkable and dial 9-1-1.

“What is the nature of your emergency?”

“Well, it isn’t a real emergency, ma’am, but my dog has a skunk cornered in the backyard, and rabid skunks have been reported in my area. Can anybody help me?”

“I’ll contact animal control.”

After giving my address, I hang up and resume hollering out the back door. Lucy appears exhausted, and it isn't long before she darts close enough for me to grab her collar.

Holding on for dear life, I haul her heaving body through the house and into the garage, where she collapses in a smelly heap on the cold concrete floor.

About that time, the doorbell rings. I open the door to find a young police officer, flashlight in hand.

“You called?”

“Uh, yes, and I’m really sorry for bothering anybody. My dog had a skunk cornered in the backyard, but I’ve got her in the garage now.”

“Has the skunk left?”

“I have no idea.”

“I’ll go check it out.”

To my amazement, more police officers are arriving by the minute—five patrol cars in all—and while some join the backyard search, others join me inside the house and offer homemade remedies for de-skunking my dog. The mood is jovial, and I am grateful for a low-crime night in the city.

Finally, the skunk search comes to a futile end, and one by one, the policemen say good-bye and drive away.

After checking Lucy’s water in the garage, I lock the doors, return to bed and marvel at how powerful one late-night phone call, from one desperate, frazzled woman turned out to be. Trivial problem; crucial support.

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come ‘boldly’ unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

In other words, regardless of how silly and insignificant our problems might seem, we needn’t be shy in asking for God’s assistance. He is concerned with every aspect of our lives, and he longs to help us in our times of need. All we have to do is give him a call. An army of angels is standing by. ♦
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