The Broken Tail Lights Y ears ago I read an awesome book by Richard Foster entitled, Celebration of Discipline. In it he mentions that God often speaks to us through circumstances. Having just read Foster’s book, I suppose my spiritual antenna was out and I was more aware of my surrounding circumstances. Then something strange happened. As I was riding my 10-speed bicycle home from work one night, it was already dark outside, and I had my bike light on when a car passed me with a broken tail light. He had his turn signal on, and with the red reflector mostly gone his blinker light almost blinded me because it was so bright. I thought to myself, “It has been months since I’ve seen a car with a broken tail light.” I didn’t think muchmore about it. Then, about 1/2 a mile down the road, a pickup passed me with a broken tail light. The next night another car passed me with a broken tail light, and two nights later another car passed me with a broken tail light. I began praying, “Lord, is this coincidence or are you trying to tell me something?” As I prayed the thought hit me, “It was the broken ones which shined the brightest.”—Sometimes it seems God allows us to be broken so His light can shine through us. Not long after this I was returning from Kansas, having visited my parents. My wife and daughter were asleep and I was having a wonderful time of prayer. I had Christian music playing and I was telling God how much I loved Him and how I was willing to do anything for Him. As I prayed, a car passed me with a broken tail light. I felt as though God was saying, “Bart, if you mean it, are you willing to pay the cost? Are you willing to be broken so that My light might shine through you?” The breaking process has not been easy nor fun, but as Paul learned in II Corinthians 12:10, God often shines the brightest through our brokenness; “When I am weak, then I am strong.”—If you’re battling a major problem or illness, let Him shine through your brokenness. d
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