"Here is a little story about a simple answer to prayer. Lars was away. I had to take the car to the repairman’s
house. Li Zeng, our live-in student,
followed me in his car to bring me home.
Directions to the house had been ambiguous, and Gloucester, Massachusetts
gets the prize for town-easiest-to-get-lost-in.
I prayed that I might not get lost—Li had to get to class, the repairman
had to leave at 7:15. I got lost, made a
quick turn without checking to see that Li was still with me. He wasn’t.
“Lord, Li will be late for class, the man will leave in a few minutes—what
shall I do?” It’s a long story, but
after a phone call I found the house, left the car, declined the man’s kind
offer to take me home because I wanted to find Li so he would not miss his
class. How was I to find him? “Lord, help me.” I stood at an intersection and prayed that he
would come along—an absurd request in a place like Gloucester.
He’d been on a one-way street which would take him far out around the
shore drive, with no reason to happen upon the intersection where I stood. Within five minutes there he was! God teaches us to ask so that He may answer
our prayers. This reminds us of the
source of our blessings. The answer to
my prayer not to get lost was No—in order that I might be specially blessed
in the way I was found.
Remember how the Lord brought Israel
out (of Egypt)
in order to bring them in (to Canaan)? He got me
lost that He might get me found! Let’s
never forget that some of His greatest mercies are His refusals. He says no in order that he may, in some way
we cannot imagine, say yes. All His ways
with us are merciful. His meaning is
always love."
~Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart
~Brittany
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