Before I Call, He Answers

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

“J. D., I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams. God is so good! Who do you know that is having a difficult financial time? I want to share some of the Lord’s blessings with someone who really needs it.”

Looking into his beaming eyes, I couldn’t help but think back eleven years ago when I first met Jack.* He was going through some tough times after serving several years in prison for a drug charge. Determined never to be controlled by a substance of any kind again, he had given up drugs, smoking, and alcohol. Newly married, and financially struggling, he landed a good-paying job at one of the coal mines in the area, then was shortly afterwards fired when a supervisor reviewed his application, and saw that he had served time.

There was an undeniably special quality about him. He impressed management at 3ABN, and they decided to give him a chance, hiring him as a groundskeeper. Jack’s work ethic made him a valuable employee. Over time, he and I started developing a “good old boy” relationship, as he visited after hours in my office. Watching him grow in his relationship with the Lord was a true joy, and we stayed in touch when he left a few years later to begin working in a family business.

Jack always says that working at 3ABN changed his life. Before working here, he thought most people who claimed to be Christians didn’t “walk the talk”—saying one thing but doing another. However, he discovered the 3ABN staff to be genuine in their spiritual walk, and was surprised at the level of faith they had in the Lord.

“I saw God working in people’s lives,” he says. “They were sincere Christians who trusted the Lord, and were cheerful and hopeful, even when they were dealing with life’s problems. They showed me what life could be like with Him in charge. I was falling in love with the Lord and I learned to call on Him for every decision.”

One day he attended an employee meeting for supplemental insurance coverage. Healthy and strong, Jack didn’t think he needed disability insurance. But, listening to the still, small voice of the Lord, he was strongly impressed to enroll in the program—even though he and his wife were operating their household on a tight budget. Thirteen days after the policy took effect, Jack broke his back. Between his employee insurance and the supplemental policy, all his medical bills and living expenses were paid—and that marked the beginning of his total surrender to God’s leading.

“God makes it easy for me to make the right choices in all things,” he says. “The Holy Spirit convicts me when I do something wrong and I immediately ask for forgiveness. I’ve learned that I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. He’s always there. He’s got my back, and I don’t worry about anything.

“God is always showing off His protection and provision in my life,” he continues. “The neat thing is that my seven-year-old son has recognized the power of prayer, and how needless worry is. The other day we lost our keys, and he said, ‘Wait, Dad. Let’s pray. Don’t worry, God’s got this!’ My son handles all of life’s problems this way, and always says, ‘See, God knew what we needed.’ He notices every little good deed I do, and says, ‘That’s great, Dad. That’s the way Christians are supposed to act.’ I’m just excited that I can teach my son the benefits of trusting and serving God. I want him to know how to live by God’s guidance, and avoid the bad choices I made in my early years.

“Every morning I ask God to make me the best person I can be—the best dad, the best husband, the best boss. I give Him thanks for all things, in front of all people, and do my best to share with others what works for me—just telling them it is always better to do things God’s way. I have learned never to worry. I just talk to God about everything throughout each day and trust Him for the outcome. Actually, I don’t ask God for anything for myself. I just thank Him for all He has done for me.

“Of course, it doesn’t mean bad things don’t happen, but God gives me the tools to handle it. When problems come I just deflect them to Him. He gives me discernment. God is always there. He sees us trying a little bit, and He blesses us.”

Being in Jack’s presence is like attending a motivational seminar. His joy and enthusiasm for the Lord is contagious. He just bought the home of his dreams on 30 wooded acres. He had tried to buy it earlier, but it sold too quickly. “I told my wife we were already blessed, and that we needed to be content with what God had given us. But shortly after that conversation, I drove by the property and saw it was on the market again. So I prayed about it, and was impressed to buy it. Everything fell into place perfectly. We moved into the house, and several days later, a guy bought our old house and paid us cash for it. Now isn’t that amazing? God is so good. I don’t know why I am so blessed—I don’t deserve it.” 

Jack has learned to walk with God as His friend, and before he calls, God’s got the answer. *A pseudonym.