I’m not quite sure how to present the called-for stories of answered prayer, yet I thought I should let my readers know that I received several stories of answered prayer as a result of one of my own stories from my yet unpublished manuscript (and I have many.) So, I didn’t quite know what to expect, but among them was this doozy that affirms that God can do the impossible, and I should know since I’ve experienced miracles like this – time and again. Haven’t you?
Hi Jim,
I always read the articles you post to the RR website. I am always encouraged by how you relate how God works in your daily life and how you are always aware of His Providence. The following happened to me some years ago when my son was 3 years old and cell phones were those expensive brick phones, i.e., I didn’t have one. Please feel free to edit because I do ramble.
My brother was in the ICU in Eugene, Oregon, and at the time, we didn’t think he would live (he did). My parents had gone over a couple weeks earlier from our town 3 hours away to help his wife with their kids so she could be at his side. I felt an urgent need to go see him, too, so I packed up my 3-year-old son in his car seat and headed 3 hours away. Before I left, I talked with a nephew on the phone, and he gave me vague directions on how to find their home.
I arrived in Eugene in the usual 3 hours, and it was late afternoon. I drove around trying to follow my hastily written directions and, after a couple of hours, had to admit I was lost. I had NO idea where we were. I found a phone booth at a convenience store in an unsavory sort of neighborhood that left me feeling very uneasy, but it was the only phone I had found in miles of driving. I parked as close as I could to the phone booth and called my brother’s house, and got yet another nephew who had no idea where I was when I gave him the cross streets. His directions were as useless as what I already had. My parents weren’t there but were on an errand.
It was getting dark, and I needed help. My son was fussy, and I was beginning to panic. I got back in my car and started driving with traffic and was praying, praying, praying. Please Lord, keep us safe and direct me to my brother’s house, I asked.
It was about sunset, and I had no idea what to do and was willing myself to be calm and wait for God’s help. As I was sitting in traffic at a red light, I suddenly noticed a familiar vehicle 2 cars ahead of me in the next lane. Could it be? No way! I couldn’t believe it. It was my parents!! I was so thankful and praising God as I followed them into a home improvement store parking lot a few blocks away. They were as surprised to see me as I had been to see their car moments earlier.
They asked why I was way over on this side of town?? I asked them the same thing. My dad was looking for a particular part to repair a cabinet at my brother’s home; they had been to 3 stores already at that point, and all stores were out of stock. This store they were at was the last one they were going to go to, and no surprise, they had the part! I tried to wrap my mind around the timing of the entire episode many times through the years. Only God can work the timing of something so perfectly.
That was years ago, but it showed me there is no such thing as coincidence or random happening. The Lord cares about the little things in our lives as much as the big things. It’s all important to Him. He is so good!
Thanks for reading…
Toni
In these perilous times, it is imperative that we know we can count on God to answer prayer, and when he doesn’t, it could be that he expects us to find a solution for ourselves with the brain he gave us for just such occasions.
How my manuscript came about:
It was only when I lost everything that was dear to my heart that I became what some might call a “street evangelist” while searching for meaning and the direction my life took after I received Christ. Although I was highly successful in the beginning of my profession as an actor and the money was good, I turned down a very lucrative commercial because it promoted smoking – something I don’t approve of. The turning down of this huge national commercial was the turning point for me. My wife left me, taking my two beloved boys with her. Today I don’t blame her, but I lost a sense of direction, and I was confused as to why this had happened.
I was blackballed for a while, which led to hopelessness. I didn’t care if I lived or died. I began traveling without a sense of direction, landing a gig here and there. I worked on a movie in Detroit and a television show- plus a couple of commercials. (There, I was a big fish in a small pond.)
I found myself back in Miami, where I got my start in the film industry, and by now, the film community had forgiven me and welcomed me back with open arms. Once again, I was on a roll, except that I was still conflicted about the other part of my family life, and I missed my boys terribly. In spite of the setbacks, I experienced many wonderful things, like praying for a demon-possessed woman as I held her to my chest while she cried uncontrollably, also starting a Sunday service in a park and consoling the dispossessed. As I threw myself into this endeavor, God saw fit to provide sustenance and work between acting jobs, which became scarcer and scarcer because of my loss of interest. By now, I had begun writing screenplays and directing.
Today, I can tell you things that would make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. The stories I tell in my 240-page manuscript are chock full of otherworldly experiences that have increased and become almost commonplace occurrences today.
There comes a point in our lives when things don’t matter as much anymore, and we know that accolades and money are fleeting. The time comes when we finally realize that pleasing God and promoting other people’s wellbeing are what really matters in life.
YBIC
Jim Towers
Write me with your short story of how your prayers were answered.
at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com or visit me at www.dropzonedelta.com and my website www.propheticsignsandwonders.com.