My favorite place to pray at work was outside of a building that overlooked the rail spur that brought parts into our plant. Often I sat on guard rail during my lunch break and prayed as trains moved in and out. During one of those prayer sessions God spoke to me in a way that has sustained me through many a trial.
It was a difficult time for me. Troubles were hedging me in on all sides. A Christian friend made a sudden turn and went off on a spiritual tangent. As a new self-proclaimed prophet he began to lash out at ordinary Christians like me. The workplace was becoming a minefield full of angry co-workers and an impossible boss. At home my teenagers rebelled against our Christian values. Tension headaches began to take their toll. I was worn out and at wits end.
I sat outside and poured my heart out to God. My prayer ended with, “God I don’t think I can handle it anymore.” Looking up at the box car that was passing in front of me brought an answer I hadn’t expected. Someone had painted “We Can Handle It!“ on the box car. I was amazed. How had he done that? How did he know I’d be sitting there asking that question the very minute he sent the answer. We can handle it. I wasn’t alone. It wasn’t my responsibility to bear the weight of my problems. I went back to work with a smile. Things turned a corner from that point. Since then I smile at problems when I remember we can handle it.
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