LightGrams
January 9, 2025
Volume 29, Number 2
Police in Saskatchewan, Canada are ready to help with emergencies that arise; that’s why they monitor the local 911 phone lines. But recently they posted a video to their Facebook page asking the public not to call with requests that aren’t truly emergencies. They gave 10 examples of calls not to make, based on calls they received in 2024.
One caller on the list complained that they didn’t recognize an individual on their friends list; another reported that someone had thrown their ice cream on the ground. There was a caller who stated that their cat was being mean to them, and could an officer be sent to help with the situation? The number 1 “don’t call” example was when someone called 911 to report that their tambourine had been taken during a party.
“Calling 911 must be reserved for emergencies and crimes in progress,” the post concluded. To emphasize their point it was announced that fines up to $1,400 would be assessed anyone who called for trivial or non-emergency reasons, officially classified as “misuse of 911”.
Most of us realize there are limits to the help that civil authorities can give us. Their job is not to repair our washing machine, help us prepare for math tests, or assist us in unlocking our cell phone (other items on the list in Saskatchewan). “Don’t call us for these” is a reasonable request. But what about God? I once prayed for God’s help to find an important document. Was that too trivial for Him?
In 2 Kings 6 we read about a servant of the prophet Elisha who lost a borrowed axe head in the water. Was this too trivial to bother God’s prophet with? Elisha “cut off a stick and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore, he said, ‘Pick it up for yourself!’” (2 Kings 6:6,7). No, that was not too trivial. Had the servant not asked, the borrowed object would have remained lost.
King Ahaz of Judah was facing a crisis with two nations preparing to attack. God sent the prophet Isaiah with a message to trust God, and to provide a sign of Ahaz’s choosing. Ahaz apparently had no faith in God’s ability to protect: “I will not ask [for a sign], nor will I test the Lord.” Isaiah’s response is worth noting: “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?” (Isaiah 7:12.13). God was ready to help, but Ahaz would not ask for His help.
Philippians 4:6,7 has guidance for us and the needs we experience: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Let those words sink in as you wonder whether God wants to hear about our “trivial” needs: “Be anxious for nothing … in everything … let your requests be made known to God.”
People may say, “Don’t call us,” but God has never said that. He is ready to help His people, and He will do what is right and best for them. Read also Matthew 7:7-11. (By the way, I found the missing document not long after praying that prayer!)
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2025, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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