An Answered Prayer

When you reach the bottom, look up.

Many years ago my wife and I owned a small business. We named it Japanese Language Services (JLS). My wife translated Japanese documents, mostly patents, into English. I helped her keep our two computers and other office equipment running and updated. I also did proofing and “editing” and graphics for the documents. I got them into final form and sent them back to the requestor. I also handled the billing and all the accounts receivable work, did the taxes, bookkeeping, etc. JLS was our soul source of income. We had a son in college and a mortgage to pay.

Each morning we’d start the day with a spiritual reading and prayer. One day we had run out of work. Normally, we had a stack of jobs waiting to be done, but not this day. We’d reached the bottom of the inbox.

So, we prayed, “Lord, we’re desperate; we need your help. Please hear our prayer. Please send us some work. Thank you!”

No sooner had we uttered those words than the doorbell rang. The Airborne driver handed us a package that contained several patents for us to translate. We were back in business!

We often reflect on that spontaneous answer to prayer. It happened so fast it made us fall on our knees and give immediate thanks. In order to answer our prayer so quickly, God had to set the ball in motion the day before. The jobs came to us from Austin, Texas a couple of hours by plane from where we lived in Minnesota. He knew our need and was moving to meet it long before we asked Him for help. That’s the kind of God we worship. He knows our needs and provides for us.

When I’m having a tough day and begin thinking God is remote and unconcerned, I reflect back on that day and know that He is close and does listen. He doesn’t give us what we want, but He does give us what we need.

Be blessed and have a joy-filled day!

Happy Reading, Writing and Connecting!