When word of a flood threatening her house reached Betty, she didn't worry. She knew God would keep her safe. When the waters had reached her doorstep, a neighbor came by in his canoe and said, "Betty, get in the canoe! I'll take you somewhere safe."
Betty said, "No thanks. God will save me." So her neighbor rowed away.
When the water was almost up to her second story, the local sheriff came by in his motor boat and saw her looking out a window. "Betty," he called, "I'm going to pull up to the house. Just climb out the window and we'll take you somewhere safe."
Betty called out, "No thanks. God will save me." So the sheriff motored away.
As the water rose even higher, Betty climbed out of her attic window and pulled herself onto the roof. A FEMA boat came along and said, "Ma'am, we're here to help. Just climb down to the edge and jump in our boat. We'll take you somewhere safe."
Again, Betty answered, "No thanks. God will save me." So the FEMA crew moved on to help other people who were stranded.
Within hours, the flood waters covered the house and Betty was washed away to her death. As she stood before God, she was shocked. "I trusted You," she said, "Why didn't You save me?"
"What are you talking about?" God responded, "I sent three boats."
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This parable has two very important lessons: Divine help doesn't always come with burning bushes or parted seas. Frequently the miracles He creates look rather mundane on the surface. Don't reject the help God sends because you were imagining something flashier. Personally, I think it's kind of miraculous that someone figured out that bread mold could cure disease, and I thank God every time I take antibiotics.
Secondly, you are called to be those miracles. God tells us, "If you love Me, feed My sheep." It's not flashy, but God's love shared through simple acts is powerful, probably more powerful than we'll ever know.
