It’s been almost 15 years to the day that I lost my dear friend and neighbor Melba. We were partners in the good kind of crime, loved working in the yard together, walking the dog (and cats) together, just sitting on the porch together, and she loved gambling as much as I did (although she had healthier limits than me 😊).  

So today, I extract this devotion from my book in memory of her. I will always regret my silence that day, but find hope in the fact that God’s voice is greater than mine. And I cherish His amazing grace, which several years later redeemed my silence when He interrupted my life, changed my path, and gave me a reason to write and speak.

Don’t miss those opportunities that make the day count! Be the cream in somebody else’s coffee because it really could be your last opportunity to speak life, bring hope, and share joy.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

I Peter 3:15

We were several weeks late celebrating her birthday. She had been sick. I had been out of town. But we had finally sat down at the table to acknowledge her precious life. She was weak, so we had taken a wheelchair…something she was fiercely against, but her body was rebelling, and if we were to celebrate by eating out, that is the way it would have to be.

It was there at the table that she asked me about salvation. She was afraid she would die soon, and doubtful that she was good enough to get to heaven. I sat in silence for a moment, then deflected her question. I didn’t have the courage to face the truth that she was dying. And I didn’t have the confidence to share my faith. My walk with God at that point had been shallow and I wasn’t prepared for discussions. I was scared that I would say something wrong, so I brushed off her comments, thinking there was plenty of time to talk. Plenty of time for me to think about what I should say. Three weeks later, as I sat at her funeral, I wept. Not only for the loss of my friend, whom I loved dearly, but also for my lack of faith. I had failed God greatly. He had been good to me, and I had abandoned His child in need. But most of all, I had failed my friend. I had failed to share the only hope that could bring her peace in her last days.

It brings me comfort to know that God is sovereign and the author of salvation. He alone, without our help, can do what he wants to accomplish. When we seek Him with all our whole hearts, we will find Him. And I believe that Melba was seeking Him wholeheartedly. But He also brings us the opportunities to share. When those opportunities arise, our obedience brings blessings; blessings of peace and love and hope. But we both missed these blessings that day because of my faithless fear. I wish I had known then, what I know now — that He did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and love (2 Tim 1:7), and we can overcome our faithless fear with confident courage.      

I am also assured that all of us are good enough through Christ. He wore a crown of thorns, so we could wear our crown of victory. We don’t have to be perfect to accept his grace. When we respond to Him with open and repentant hearts, we can be doubtlessly assured that we are, indeed, good enough.

I never got the chance to talk with Melba again. She was wheeled into surgery and never regained consciousness. But I hope, from the bottom of my heart that she heard God’s call while she lay in the hospital for three weeks, surrounded by family and friends. As we sang hymns and said prayers, I could only pray that her heart received the good news that she was good enough and that she now wears her crown of victory.         

Don’t ever be afraid to share what God has done for you. He will always bring you the words to say when you release your fears to faith. Don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can say today because tomorrow may never come.

12 words

Be bold and be confident. Tomorrow may never come. Make today count!

 

Lord God, we thank you in advance for the opportunities that today will bring to speak words of life into others. Help us to listen well and pay attention so that we don’t miss those opportunities, and bring us the courage to respond and the words to say when we hear them. God your voice is enough, but you choose to work through us, using our experiences to comfort and encourage others. Help us to make today count for you and for those who may cross our paths.