“…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3,4

As we sat beside the road looking at our broken down car, I was finding it hard to thank God. Here we were, stranded out in the wild Eastern part of the country, literally a hundred miles from the nearest city and many miles from the nearest village, with no help in sight and certainly no sign of any goodness in the situation.  And this was long before there were any cell phones!

A verse I’d memorized came to mind, “I remembered the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done” (Ps. 143:5). Then some thoughts came to mind of how God had recently worked in our lives to get us into this predicament.

While we were gone in Germany, the mother of the three “orphans” we’d been taking care of had turned up with a court order giving the father custody of the children. After consulting a lawyer, it was obvious that we had to take them to their father who lived far out in the East.

So, we had loaded ten of us (the three children, our local ministry partner, “Charles,” and his daughter, our German helper, and us four) into our little Volkswagen station wagon—not a van, but one of those little rear engine station wagons--and headed off. About 400 kilometers into the trip, a large stone in the road put a crack in our transmission case, causing an unseen oil leak, which eventually resulted in us being stranded beside the road.

The Lord had many reasons for allowing this to happen, the primary one being to teach us (and especially me) to praise Him in and for all things. I had the theory of praise, but needed the practice!

Psalm 34 came to my mind, “I will bless the Lord at all times…” especially when it isn’t pleasant! And Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” I had to bow my head and thank Him for this discouraging and distressing situation, knowing that He is good and wise and loving. This gave Him far more glory than when I thanked Him after the whole event had come to a good conclusion.