We don’t always understand why things happen the way they happen but we do know that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. There are several stories in this issue of “The Well” that reinforce this. Why would someone call at the exact moment another person needed it? Why do you feel drawn to speak to another person at a particular moment? God knows the reasons, and He has the plans.

Last weekend we traveled about 5½ hours away from home for a puppet program. As is our usual practice when we travel, we attended the church service with the woman we stayed with. During that service the pastor shared a testimony from one of the church members. As I looked around I could see several people wiping tears during the recount. The pastor started with “I probably will forget some details of this story but I’ll give it a try…” and I feel the same, but I feel this testimony is for you to hear too and I’m sure it won’t be quite the same but I’ll give it a try. The names have been changed to protect my lack of memory.

This woman’s husband, call him Ed for clarity sake, had a serious heart condition that required immediate surgery, but it was so bad that the doctor’s gave him only a half a percent chance of surviving. But even that was better than nothing, so they proceeded with the surgery. This woman gathered her lady friends together to pray for Ed. As the Lord spoke to this woman, He told her that her husband would not die until he had received the Lord into his heart, which at this point he had not done. After the surgery, the doctor told this woman that Ed had died during the surgery, but she would not accept that fact. She told the doctor it wasn’t possible that he died; the Lord said he wouldn’t. But the doctor did his best to try to convince her that indeed it had happened, Ed did not survive the surgery. Then she explained to the doctor about the word from the Lord about her husband, but the doctor unsuccessfully insisted that Ed had indeed died. The doctor left as she still refused to accept the inevitable. A family member that was there with the woman began to make some phone calls to deliver the news about Ed and then the doctor returned. The doctor explained that for some strange reason, which he could not explain, they were somehow able to revive Ed and now he was alive! The faith this woman had, to believe what God had said, and to believe He would do as He promises was evident from the pastor’s recounting the testimony. Even the doctor’s next words to the woman, “Go home now before I become a Christian,” was evident of that.

As it turned out several weeks later, Ed had an opportunity to accept the Lord into his life and began to walk in God’s ways; he lived another four years after that. One day while they were walking through the mall, another couple began to approach them. Ed said to his wife, “I need to speak to that man,” and figuring it was someone from his work, she didn’t question him. She began to speak to the other man’s wife as the two men were talking. Then the other woman noticed that her husband was crying and questioned what was going on. As it turned out, Ed felt a need to speak to this man because the Lord had impressed upon him that this man was going to commit suicide, and sure enough, it was true. The man apparently was going to leave his wife at the mall and was going to kill himself. This man had prayed just that morning that if God was really there He would send someone to stop him.

Although this story is a great witness to God’s miraculous ways of saving us in the last minute, it is more a testimony of obedience. The Lord spoke to this man through Ed’s obedience. It was because Ed was willing to listen and to obey that this man was saved. The reason Ed may have survived that surgery was because God had a greater job in store for him to do and Ed was willing to do it. It could have been the “near death” experience that shook his life and made him realize that there was something missing in it or it could have been the faithful prayers of an obedient wife. All I know is that there was a plan that was bigger than you or I can see. God had work for Ed to do and Ed was willing to do it. When you give your life to God, you give Him opportunity to use you in ways you will never imagine. Being a child of God and listening to the Father’s words is a greater miracle.

When God created man He gave him free will, which is the opportunity to make choices. God didn’t want robots or slaves; He wanted willing vessels. Are you willing to listen? It isn’t “why do things happen the way they do” that we should be asking, but “what can I learn from this situation” or “how can I help someone else through this.”

If you are willing to listen, the first step is to commit you life to God. If you have never given your heart to Him, to trust Him completely, this is your opportunity. Even if you have given your life to Him, you may not spend much time listening. You can refresh that connection to Him. Sometimes I think that we don’t hear about more of these last minute life saving experiences because even though God does try to send people in the last minute, it could be that more aren’t saved because we don’t listen more; because we are too busy to hear Him calling.

The next time you feel a need to call someone on the phone or speak to someone in the mall, don’t brush it off as a silly notion. It might be God speaking to you at the last minute.