It was late in the evening. Sitting in my recliner, I was reading when the phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, I was surprised to see it was Herb. We had only spoken twice before, and both conversations had transpired from my office. Herb isn’t easy to reach by phone. Earlier in the day, I had called him, but—like most of my attempts—my effort to reach out resulted in leaving a voicemail. So I eagerly accepted this call from my brother-in-Christ.
Herb is an inspiration to me, and I enjoy talking with him. For the past few years, he has been a regular contributor of materials for 3ABN’s Prison Ministries. He will call our staff periodically and ask, “What books do the prisoners request the most? What languages do you need?” Armed with information that will maximize his giving, he then orders cases of Christian books, Bibles, and Bible-study materials to be sent to 3ABN for distribution to these isolated souls.
Herb understands the loneliness of isolation. A single man, he suffers from severe fibromyalgia—debilitating pain, stiffness, fatigue, headaches, and sleep disturbances—that often confines him to bed. At 59 years of age, he lives a solitary life behind his bedroom walls and has very little contact with the outside world. Solitary confinement. No family interaction.
“Nobody would guess how God can still use me to minister from behind these walls,” Herb said with glee.
He doesn’t lay in bed bemoaning his deplorable physical condition. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself. God has used these circumstances to give Herb great empathy for others who are incarcerated behind prison walls. He asked the Lord how he could help the men and women who are closed in to know God’s love. And it was God who birthed Herb’s ministry.
Herb’s story reminds me a bit of the patriarch Job. Job suffered greatly, but it was when he began praying for his friends—his three miserable comforters—that God restored his joy and a double-fold blessing, “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”Job 42:10.
God fills Herb’s heart with joy as he is able to send materials for the prisoners, and you might think this man has a surplus of funds. But let me share the touching backstory.
“Herb, I want to make sure that you aren’t being overly sacrificial in your giving.” I felt uneasy saying it, but I knew he lived in low-income housing on a very small government check.
“I get my bills paid, J. D., and God shows me how to make do on very little. I have a government phone, so no phone bill. My neighbor lets me use her Internet when I need to. God provides in all kinds of ways like this. He leads me to the publishing houses or bookstores that offer the best prices. God multiplies my resources.”
His soft voice trembled with joy as he continued, “It’s the only avenue I have available to me to further God’s kingdom. I yearn to have a purpose—to help others who are isolated, like me. And God fills my heart to overflowing with joy each time I do my part!
“I rarely get any calls, J. D. In fact, my eyes well up with tears of joy each time the folks at 3ABN Prison Ministries calls to say they have received what I’ve ordered. It thrills me—I can only imagine what God is going to do with these books—whose hands will they end up in, and how God will change their lives. I find myself whispering to Jesus, ‘Thank you, Lord!’”
Yes, I should have known—this is the way God works. It was Jesus who said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”Luke 6:38.
When we act with compassion, compassion is returned to us. When we give joy, joy overflows back to us.
At some time or another, we all feel isolated “behind these walls.” It could be physical walls, as in Herb’s case, or the case of the incarcerated. But often, we’re locked in behind our walls of emotional pain and insecurity. What can we do from behind these walls?
Reach out! Ask God how you can help someone in need. Pray for others in your same condition, as Job prayed for his criticizing friends. When we get over ourselves and look to help others, God will bless us, just as He blessed Job—and as He continues to bless Herb!
