Me: How is your day today Prodigal?
Prodigal: It was just a little bit better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Me: Maybe I can distract you with a story that reminds us that, at any time God can change things.
This comes from the book Too Busy Not To Pray by Bill Hybels
After a particularly exhausting meeting one evening, I got into my car to head home. As I made my way down the exit road, I noticed out of the corner of my eye someone walking toward the parking area. In that fraction of a second I received what I thought was a prompting from God-to go and offer some form of assistance to the person I had just passed.
My initial response was Why? The person didn’t seem to be having any difficulty. My second response was Why Me? I’d already done my share that day, studying, working on a sermon, counseling with people and then leading a meeting. I just wanted to go home.
And so I kept driving, rationalizing my disobedience to the little prompting from God with every quarter mile gained. But wouldn’t you know, the Holy Spirit persisted. By the time I had reached the entrance sign to Willow’s property, I felt so restless in my spirit that I decided I couldn’t put up with it anymore. Disobedience was causing more stress than simply turning around and obeying, even if I was tired and even if I did deserve to go home.
I headed back down the entrance road, pulled alongside the person, who was still traveling on foot, rolled my window down and awkwardly said, “Is there any way I can serve you? Could I drive you to your car or something?”
I had never seen the woman before, but she recognized me and gladly accepted my offer. We drove toward her car, and just as she was about to thank me and step out, she said, “There was an announcement in the bulletin at church tonight about the need for administrative help in the church office, and I’ve been feeling God leading me to apply for that position. What do you think?”
That night I had no idea how offering help to a person who probably didn’t need it would affect my life and ministry. As it turned out the woman joined our staff and served faithfully for almost ten years.
I cringe when I imagine what Willow might have missed if I hadn’t obeyed that prompting.
Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
