The Blessing We Drove Away From

Last week, on our final day at the lake, we were loading our boat onto the trailer at the public boat ramp before heading home.

While I waited for Mick to bring the boat around, I noticed two men nearby having trouble with theirs. Their truck was pulled close to the water, and they had the battery sitting on the ground, trying to get something working. I wasn’t exactly sure what the problem was, but it was obvious their boat wasn’t starting.

For a moment, I thought about calling Mick on his cell phone to ask if there was anything we could do to help. Maybe we could tow them back to the ramp. Maybe they already had everything under control. Maybe they didn’t need us at all. But I never asked.

Instead, we loaded our boat, pulled out of the parking lot, and started the drive home. It didn’t take long before I looked over at Mick and said, “I think we just missed a blessing.” I’ve thought about that moment more times than I care to admit.

The truth is, I’ll never know whether they needed our help. They may have had friends on the way. They may have solved the problem five minutes later. Or maybe our boat could have made all the difference by towing them around to the ramp. I’ll never know because I never asked.

As I reflected on it over the next few days, I realized that sometimes we overthink opportunities to help people. We worry about interrupting. We wonder if they’ll think we’re being nosy. We convince ourselves someone else will step in. Meanwhile, the opportunity quietly slips away.

The Bible reminds us, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…” (Galatians 6:10)

Notice Paul doesn’t say, “Only help when you’re certain you’re needed.” He simply says, as we have opportunity.

Sometimes the greatest act of kindness is simply asking, “Is there anything I can do to help?” If the answer is no, you’ve lost nothing. But if the answer is yes, you may become part of God’s answer to someone’s prayer.

I wish I had a do-over of that morning at the boat ramp. Since I don’t, I’ve decided to take the lesson with me instead. The next time God nudges my heart to stop and ask, I don’t want to overthink it. I just want to do it.

Perhaps that’s exactly how God works—not only by putting people in need in our path, but by giving us the choice to notice them.

Maybe today, one of those opportunities will come your way. When it does, don’t overthink it. Just ask. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

You never know whose day—or whose heart—God might change through one simple question.

July 29, 2026 Morning Brew