Ordinary Gold

I was early for church, so I sat at an empty table in the atrium with a cup of coffee. A young father, whom I’d never met, sat down next to me, along with his son who was enjoying a donut. After just a few minutes of conversation, I learned that this godly man was hurting. His wife was rejecting him and his faith. She was planning to leave him and take a job in China. He told me that he is praying and trusting in the Lord. He knows that no matter what happens in his marriage, he will rely on his God to get him through. His goal is to bring glory to God through this trial. As tears filled his eyes, my heart broke for him. I remembered well the heartache of being married to an unbeliever who didn’t want to be with me anymore, and my desperate need for God to carry me.

I gave David my business card and told him that if his wife ever wanted to talk to someone, I’d be happy to meet with her. That day I began praying for his spiritual strength, marriage and family. A few weeks went by without receiving a phone call, so I assumed the business card ended up in the trash. Until last week, when I received a call from his mother-in-law, Liz, who lives with them. (David later told me he had given her the card and said to her, “This is gold! If you don’t call her, give the card back to me.”) Gold! Wow, no pressure!

Liz asked to meet with me. I reserved one of our conference rooms at the office where we met and talked for about an hour. After pouring out her heart, I just kept thinking that she needed the peace only Jesus can give. She was distraught because her daughter was treating her with contempt; she needed a better job and a place to live; and was single and lonely. Liz admitted she had no control of her life, and was at the end of her rope. As we prayed together, she put her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord. I was happy to see her at church on Easter ­– she was beaming. Though her problems have not been resolved, she said she is happy and at peace. “I just needed to let go,” she remarked.

Just before that Easter service started, David arrived. He looked happy, and shared with me that something amazing was taking place in his wife’s heart. “Something I never thought possible,’ he said. ‘She is changing. She decided not to leave me! We even had a date last night.” She told him there is hope for their marriage. We wept for joy together as we acknowledged that the Holy Spirit is working in his family. Although his wife has not submitted to Jesus yet, we are confident that God will finish the work he has begun in her heart.

What excites me about this story is how our glorious Father is in the details. For instance, I rarely sit and initiate conversations with strangers at church. God sat me down at that particular table. God placed David there too. In that casual meeting, David, a 6’2”, fit, handsome man, allowed himself to be transparent with me, a stranger. The result was that he felt our encounter was “gold.” Then Liz called me, not knowing what she wanted, just that she was frustrated with her life. This resulted in her giving her heart and life to Jesus. David’s wife, who told him that she just wants to “be happy,” relented without an awareness that she was responding to the prompting of God. Now she has taken a first unselfish step toward fulfilling her marriage vows and, hopefully, will come to Christ, too.

Why are we so surprised when we see God working in answer to our prayers? I don’t know anything more exciting than a life changed because someone prayed।


In this holy season, be encouraged to never give up praying for those you love who are living outside the will of God. Our Lord orchestrates his plan in such unexpected ways sometimes! Our part is to watch where he is working and respond to his Spirit. Nothing is too hard for him. He is able to do abundantly above all we ask or imagine. And he uses ordinary people like you and me because to him, we are all “gold.”

Read
Psalm 51:17
Psalm 73:26
Matthew 21:22
John 14:13-14
James 5:13-17

Reflect
· In what ways has God answered your prayers? Make a list.
· Has your prayer time been mostly desperate requests, or have you acknowledged God’s blessings with praise?
· Does your faith feel weak? What must you do to strengthen your faith?
· Have you given up praying for someone?
· Make a list of scripture passages that have meant something to you in the past. Remember what God was telling you through those words.
· Begin afresh with God in your prayer times by acknowledging his sovereignty and your belief in his power

Respond
Holy and righteous Father, at times I think it’s all up to me to change people, when in truth, it’s all up to you. I love how you move in our lives and families in response to our prayers. You are faithful. You are holy. You are Lord. You love us all so deeply, and want a relationship with us. Won’t you put me in the right place at the right time to do your will? Make me sensitive to your Spirit so that I can respond in ways that will please you. Show me how you are working so that I can join you in it and experience the joy of lives changed, even mine!