He Never Sleeps On The Job

According to an Associated Press article (May 23, 2012) a Rockville, MD woman telephoned 911, but was unable to get a response from the dispatcher. Her husband had collapsed and stopped breathing.

Humanity’s Fallibility

The frantic woman dialed the emergency number and repeatedly called out, “Hello!  Hello!” But no one answered. Yet she did hear a sound on the other end of the line – the sound of someone snoring. The 911 dispatcher was sound asleep and remained so for six minutes into the call. Fortunately, another dispatcher got on the phone and gave the woman instructions on first aid – all while the sleeper’s snoring could be heard in the background. Finally, the slumbering dispatcher awoke and asked the woman’s address as the ambulance made its way to her home.

This incident generated such concern in the community that the dispatcher, a uniformed firefighter, was put on administrative leave.

If anyone should be attentive to cries for help, it should be the rescue worker who monitors a 911 phone line. Yet our systems and the people who man them are fallible and can let us down at critical times.[i]

The Divine Watchman

But there is one continual source of help that will never fail us – our loving Heavenly Father. The Scripture says, “The LORD will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD watches over you …The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;  the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:3-5, 7-8, NIV).

God never sleeps, never becomes tired, and never gets distracted from His preoccupation of watching over us. God values you more than anything else in creation, loves you unconditionally, and yearns to hear your voice. If you call out to Him in a crisis, you’ll never catch him snoring. God is always on duty and His response time is truly miraculous: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

Why waste so much energy worrying about the gaps in your healthcare, your insurance, your income, or the system’s ability to care for you? All the healthcare and life insurance in the world cannot protect you from injury, or disease, or death.

These things are a pathetic substitute for the God who loves you eternally.

Call out to Him. As Paul the apostle admonished us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, upon You I cast my burdens and my anxieties. Please protect me and my family from all danger and harm. Please guide and direct my steps and lead me on a prosperous course.  Dear God, please work all the events of my life together for my ultimate good and Your ultimate glory. Amen.