One summer a few years ago, I was involved in a very in-depth ladies’ Bible study at my church. I arrived at a section in the study that made me think of my college roommate, “Janie.”
Janie was an inspiration to me. She was a very spiritual young lady, and I attribute a great deal of my desire to become closer to God to her inspirational example. However, Janie and I had not really kept in close touch since we stopped rooming together. She and I would talk once or twice every few years.
During one of the last conversations that I had with her, I told her that I had been baptized recently. Thinking that she would be very excited, I was shocked by her reply. She told me that she just wasn't sure if she believed anymore in God or the Biblical teachings she had once held so dear to her faith. I was speechless, literally.
After we ended the conversation, I always regretted that I did not say more, but at the time I didn’t know what to say. A few months later, Janie's mother died tragically in a car accident. I spoke to her briefly at the funeral, but I still never spoke to her about her relationship with God.
On the particular day years later when I was reading my Bible study, the subject was about mothers, and I thought about Janie. I thought about how sad it was that she had lost her mother at such a young age. It also made me think of our earlier conversation, and once again I regretted that I had not reacted differently.
In the margin of the Bible study I wrote a quick prayer to God to help her. After I finished praying, I looked at my watch and realized that I had let time slip by and I needed to go home. As soon as I walked in the door, my husband said, "You are not going to believe who called you: Janie!"
"When?" I exclaimed. He told me the time when she called and it was just minutes after I had prayed for her. I nearly fainted. I had not spoken to Janie in months, if not an entire year. I called her back and asked her why she called me.
Thinking it a strange question, she said, "I just missed you and wanted to talk to you."
I said, "No, exactly what were you doing when you decided to call me?" She said that she had been outside working in her flower garden when all of a sudden she had this great desire to call me. It was so strong, she had stopped what she was doing and gone inside her house to call me.
I told her about my experience and we sat in silence for a few minutes. The whole experience gave both of us chills. She confessed that she needed to get her relationship right with God. And this time, I was ready with the words I needed to say to her.
Now, whenever I think about someone that needs help, I stop what I am doing to offer up a quick prayer. This experience has taught me that God really does listen to your prayers, and he wants to use you to do His will. I'm not sure if Janie has mended her relationship with God or not. I pray, literally, that she has. Actually I am going to say a prayer for her right now, and who knows, maybe she will call me!
Amy H.
Mobile, AL