2 Comments

  1. Victoria Nimmo Walters
    February 29, 2016 @ 3:38 PM

    Many, many years ago–probably close to 30…I failed to do something that I know good and well that Jesus asked me to do. Royal Lee and I were traveling. We stopped for gas at a convenience store and while he pumped the fuel, I went inside to purchase a soda. As the cashier rung up my purchase, I distinctly felt Our Lord’s prompt to, “Tell her that I love her.”

    I was taken aback at the clarity–but the counter was packed with people and she was busy–so I just paid for my soda, smiled at her, and left. I still feel guilty about that.

    A few days later, I recounted the incident at a leadership meeting (at church.) One of our other leaders “assured” me that when we disobey, God simply uses someone else, He doesn’t leave the one for whom the message was intended without someone who will obey.

    Be that as it may–it did nothing to assuage my guilt. I truly hope the next person rose to the occasion. But what if he or she didn’t? I still pray for that young lady. I just wish I had been obedient.

  2. avincent
    February 29, 2016 @ 4:17 PM

    Thank you for sharing this experience. I wish there was something I could do to assuage your guilt. I have been there too. All we can do is ask for forgiveness, pray for the person involved (that God sent them another servant who listened), and pray for another opportunity to do what God asks.

    We also have to accept the forgiveness He offers us. When we hold ourselves guilty when He has forgiven us, we discount His love, His provision, and His grace. Receive the forgiveness that He paid for for you and trust that He cared enough about that young girl to provide for her regardless of your reluctance. He loves her too and that love would make sure her needs were met.

    He may have made that request of you more for your benefit than hers. The task that He gave you was a small one and we will never know the impact it would have had on her life if you had followed His direction, however, your change is very evident. YOU learned a very valuable lesson that day. YOU have never been the same since. You learned a hard lesson about listening and I can bet that you have never balked at such a request from God again.

    Thank You God for Your forgiveness and for the opportunities You present us with to touch lives around us. Thank You for giving us “warm up exercises” to assess our readiness and prepare us for Your harder tasks. Forgive us for our failures and help us forgive ourselves, learn from them and move forward in Your plans for our lives.