“Talk to him about Jesus.” The words popped into my mind as I came out of the grocery store and saw a teenage boy unhooking his bike from the rack outside. I was in motion, so I continued to my car, put the groceries inside, and dug in my purse for a Bible tract. All the while, my mind was racing, excuses mingling with memories of another day with similar words and my massive failure that led to years of regret. The Christian life is full of highs and lows, victories and defeats, but one thing is for absolutely sure. God tests and retests to His children.
My Failure
The first time I heard a similar phrase was years ago. I was in the restroom at my daughter’s college band concert. I had come out from a stall and heard the words in my mind, “Tell her about Jesus.” The girl in front of me was a college student, not unlike my own daughter who was backstage getting ready for her performance. There were lots of ladies around, both old and young, and I really had no idea what to say to the beautiful girl who looked like she had it all together. I was relatively new to the Lord’s voice in my mind and even newer to the idea of talking to strangers about eternal things.
As I walked near to the girl in question, my footsteps slowed for only a moment before speeding by her and back to my seat in the darkened theater. “Lord! I didn’t know what to say. What if she thought I was being rude or crazy? I didn’t know what to say!” My excuses died down within just a few moments, and then came the rush of regret, filling the place where they had been. “I’m sorry, Lord.” Since that day, I have thought a lot about that college girl. The Bible says to look forward and not back, so I have tried not to dwell on my failure but just prayed fervently for her. I hope that someone else was courageous enough to obey the Lord and tell her about Jesus.
My Latest Encounter
And then a little over a week ago, I heard similar words in my mind. “Talk to him about Jesus.” This time I was at Aldi, my hands full of the few things I had come to purchase after work. The tall, Black teenage boy was unfastening his bike from a rack in the front of the store. My Jeep was just a few feet away, but the whole time I was walking, my head was a swirl of conflicting thoughts.
“Why would this kid listen to some strange White lady? He doesn’t want to hear anything from you. Anyway, what are you going to say?”
I saw a picture of that college girl from so many years ago and remembered the regret for not obeying the Lord at the time. Then I thought of the lesson after lesson that the Lord has taught me over the years about doing hard things. If I will just make the decision, He will take care of the follow-through. Then I thought, “The Lord will make you able. No regrets!”
I managed to reach into my purse to grab a Bible tract before I intercepted the boy’s exit from the parking area. “Excuse me,” I called to him as he rode past me. He stopped his bike and swung around to face me. His eyes were curious, and I felt the same kind of love toward him that I have felt for the hundreds and hundreds of students who have come in and out of my classroom over the years. I was still wearing my school ID and was dressed in my usual teacher-garb, so I think he probably sensed that whatever it was I wanted to say to him, it probably wasn’t too scary.
The Lord’s Victory
“Do you know Jesus? The Holy Spirit wanted me to talk to you. I just couldn’t get away from it. He’s coming soon, you know.” I handed him the little card that said, “Get Ready.” He took it and sighed with a smile, looking away. Something told me that his family knew Jesus, but he felt that he wasn’t as close as he probably should be. I asked him if he had started school yet, and he said that he hadn’t. I told him I was a twelfth grade teacher, and he said he was about to be in tenth grade. He also told me that he had been “going through some things” lately.
Just then, the words spilled out of my mouth, “The Lord loves you and is thinking about you. He sent me to talk to you, to tell you that you can tell Him anything and He will listen.” A moment later, the encounter was done and he started to pedal away. “I needed that today!” he called to me as he left, and wow! I needed that too!
God Gives Tests and Retests
Time only flows one way: forward. We can’t go back and fix the mistakes of the past, but the Lord is so gracious to use them as lessons and to keep working on our weaknesses. So, whatever it is that you see as a failure from your past with the Lord, just know that it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. He can give you another opportunity to “get it right.” God tests and retests His children. He loves to show us how far we have come and that He will be with us every step of the way.
Interested in more articles about testimonies? Check out God Gives Second Chances to Those Who Ask or God Is Faithful in the Little Things and the Big Things. Please sign up to receive my blog in your email at the top right or the bottom on your phone. Also, check out my YouTube Channel where I read the blogs out loud. I also have a playlist of hymns from my church.
