I was serving as minister for one of our congregations when a young married couple asked me to pay them a pastoral visit. They were experiencing some difficulties and wanted me to counsel them. We made plans for a visit the following week.
As the days passed by, I became more and more concerned as to what I would be able to contribute to the situations with which they were wrestling. Furthermore, they did not give me any clues as to the nature of their concerns. Speculation circled in my thoughts. I resorted to prayerful deliberations with God, asking Him for guidance so He could use me to help them get over whatever it was that troubled them.
When the day arrived I drove to the couple’s home. I sat in my parked car in front of their house, offering up one last prayer hoping to get the butterflies out of my stomach. I felt so inadequate and wondered why they thought I could help them. I hoped that they were seeking help from God and not from me.
I finished my praying and approached the front door and knocked. I was welcomed in and we greeted one another with some introductory conversation. When we entered their living room a sense of confidence came over me. The husband sat down in one chair, the wife on a sofa and I took my place in a chair. I sensed some distance had grown between them.
I told them how I would like to engage our discussion.
I said, “The way I like to proceed is to first pray together because we want God to be not only a part of our discussion, but an active participant. We need His guidance because His solution will be the most successful. After we pray, I would like each of you in turn to share your perspective of the issues and concerns and then I will work to bring God’s perspective to the discussion. We will end with a prayer of thanksgiving.”
We all agreed, but then I said something that really caused me deep concern.
I said, “Whatever the outcome of our discussion, the success or failure will depend on the answer to one question.”
My thoughts were racing in my head. I wondered – What was that all about? What was the question? And more critically, what was the answer? Now I was really ill at ease and any sense of confidence fled my being.
I began by asking the wife to first share her views of the issues from her perspective. Very articulately she expressed her feelings.
When she finished I asked her husband to share his.
As he finished, he leaned forward to the edge of his chair and almost screamed, “What is the question?”
Now I really began to sweat. I didn’t know the question nor did I know the answer! All through the discussion I was thoughtfully praying and asking God the same thing, “What is the question? And what is the answer?”
There was pause of silence that seemed to me to last forever.
Then I suddenly uttered, “The question is: Do you believe it was God who brought you two together? and if you can honestly answer YES, then there is no situation or difficulty that can tear you apart. But if the answer is NO, then some very small and insignificant issue can bring the end to this marriage.”
No sooner were these words out of my mouth when the couple in spontaneous unison proclaimed, “We believe God brought us together!”
The issue that brought us together that night melted away. Peace returned to this couple that evening. I told them of my personal concerns and confessed that I had no idea what the question was until it flowed across my lips.
We celebrated God’s gracious gift for them and offered a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to our God. I left them with a profound sense of gratitude for the answer to my prayers.
Turning Point
It must be God’s plan to maximize the efficacy of the experiences we have with Him. When we are willing servants in His hand, we can see wonders in how He works blessings for those who believe and trust in Him. His guidance sometimes requires us to be ill at ease, uncomfortable in a place of unknowns. But these only magnify the awesome effect of His love for us. It makes the experience memorable and valued. I am sure His hope is that we will share it with others and further multiply the joy of His handiwork. I believe that when we are in our greatest discomfort, God is at His best! The life of Jesus is a testimony of the Father’s mastery at times of human distress.
COPYRIGHT © 2014 ALLAN E. MUSTERER