Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Wednesday March 18 2026
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Romans 11:33-Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
2020 was a very difficult year for me.
Oh, there were a lot of reasons that it was such a rough time for me which I won’t go into detail about here.
But one in particular that I will mention is that my Dad had a heart attack.
I was at home in Hazard, Kentucky when I received the news that night.
I still remember the mad rush as my wife and I packed a bag for me. My plan was simple: get to West Virginia and stay the night at the hotel which was not far from the hospital. It was late-probably around 11:30 p.m. or so-when I got on the interstate at Ashland.
Just another hour or so to go!
That’s when I saw the flashing lights behind me.
Mumbling a silent prayer and a groan (maybe not in that order), I pulled over on the shoulder, turned on my interior lights, got out my license and registration, and rolled down my window as the officer approached me.
Officer: Good evening sir. You are in quite a hurry aren’t you?
Mark: Yes sir. Was I speeding? I had my cruise control set to seventy, but it may not be working right.
Officer: No sir, you weren’t speeding. The reason I pulled you over is because your license plate light is out.
Mark: Oh! I didn’t realize that.
Officer: License and registration please.
(Officer walks back to his car and comes back a minute later).
Officer: This says you live in Hazard. That’s a pretty good drive from here.
Mark: Yes sir.
Officer: We have orders to pull over anyone coming from that area because of suspected drug traffickers. May I ask what you are doing out tonight?
Mark: I’m actually on my way to Charleston. My Dad had a heart attack earlier this evening.
(After a brief pause)
Officer: What is your Dad’s name?
Mark: Larry Tabata.
(Getting on his radio)
Officer: Dispatch, I need everyone to stop and please say a prayer for Larry Tabata. He is in one of the hospitals in Charleston and has had a heart attack.
(To me)
Officer: Mr. Tabata, I will have your father put on our prayer list at my church. You are free to go, please get that license plate light fixed when you can.
(End Of Conversation)
My words cannot express how grateful I am for that police officer-and all of those police officers-who prayed for my Dad that night.
Getting pulled over is never a pleasant experience.
But God reminded me that even in those “not pleasant experiences,” He can and does work all things together for good for those who love Him.
Romans 8:28-And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
And one way that the Lord accomplishes that is through godly and compassionate police officers who put their lives on the line every day and say a prayer for strangers in need.
Matthew 5:9-Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
What are some ways that unfortunate experiences in your life led to a deeper understanding of God’s working and providence?
Father, thank You for Your work in our lives and in our world. Thank You for honorable police officers who try to make a difference for good in this world and who are so often unappreciated and hated. Please watch over them and bless them. Amen.