The Lady on the Plane
We boarded our flight excited for a special family trip, secretly hoping for an empty seat beside us. Since we had already taken 5 of the 6 seats, it seemed like a possibility. Instead, a woman approached our row. The moment she saw our children and us, her expression hardened. She clearly wasn’t thrilled.
I tried to strike up a conversation, but she wasn’t interested.
We had brought several books on this trip, praying God would show us who to share them with. I wondered if it might be her, but her reaction made us hesitate. So, we left her alone.
The children, however, were joyful and well-behaved, fascinated by the view from the window and grateful to be traveling together. As the flight went on, I noticed her demeanor softening. She started small conversations. Her heart was changing.
I was reminded of the quote: “One well-ordered, well-disciplined family tells more in behalf of Christianity than all the sermons that can be preached.”1
By the end of the flight, we offered her a book, God Still Lives. She received it joyfully.
Only heaven will reveal what that quiet witness accomplished.
The Busy Train Car
On a train ride, breakfast was being served to a packed car of travelers. The staff were rushed and working hard. One waitress stood out—kind, attentive, and caring.
I felt impressed to give her a book, but the timing felt terribly awkward. She was busy, and I didn’t want to cause a scene. Still, the impression persisted.
I asked another worker to find our waitress and ask her to come out for a moment. It felt uncomfortable, but I followed the impression God was giving me.
When she came, I thanked her for her care and gave her the book. She looked at it and said, “This is exactly what I need right now.”
God had used a hesitant moment of obedience to reach a tired, young woman far from home.
There are people all around us that God longs to reach. If we are willing, He will use us.
The Breakfast Room
After weeks of travel, we stayed at a small inn by the water. The breakfast room was full, and the woman running it looked exhausted.
After getting our kids fed and the table cleared, I felt impressed to give her a book, but I didn’t have one with me. We went back to the room, and I returned with God Still Lives.
She gratefully accepted the thanks for her hard work. When she saw the book, tears came to her eyes.
“This is exactly what I need. I pray, but I feel like I’m wasting God’s time. I don’t know how to pray.”
I shared how deeply God loves her, how He longs to hear from her, and how valuable she is to Him. She asked if I was an angel sent to her that morning.
Call to Action
God knows every searching heart. He sees those who are suffering, lonely, and crying out, and He wants to reach each one of them. And He sends us, if we are willing.
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” (Isaiah 6:8, emphasis added)
Small Acts, Eternal Impact (Part 1)
Would you like to read and/or share God Still Lives with others?
- Download the book: God Still Lives
- Request Free Copies: God Still Lives
All scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
- Ellen G. White, Adventist Home (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 32.
