God Knows Where You Are
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jer 33:3
Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows where you are and what you're doing every minute of the day?
I certainly do after an amazing experience I had
several years ago. At the time I was driving on 1-75 near Dayton, Ohio,
with my wife and children. We turned off the highway for a rest and
refreshment stop. My wife Barbara and children went into the
restaurant. I suddenly felt the need to stretch my legs, so waved them
off ahead saying I'd join them later. I bought a soft drink, and as I
walked toward a Dairy Queen, feelings of self-pity enshrouded my mind.
I loved the Lord and my ministry, but I felt drained, burdened. My cup
was empty.
Suddenly the impatient ringing of a telephone
nearby jarred me out of my doldrums. It was coming from a phone booth
at a service station on the corner. Wasn't anyone going to answer the
phone?
Noise form the traffic flowing through the busy
intersection must have drowned out the sound because the service
station attendant continued looking after his customers, oblivious to
the incessant ringing.
"Why doesn't somebody answer that phone?" I
muttered. I began reasoning. It may be important. What if it's an
emergency? Curiosity overcame my indifference. I stepped inside the
booth and picked up the phone. "Hello," I said casually and took a big
sip of my drink. The operator said:" Long distance call for Ken Gaub."
My eyes widened, and I almost choked on a chunk
of ice. Swallowing hard, I said, "You're crazy!" Then realizing I
shouldn't speak to an operator like that, I added, "This can't be! I
was walking down the road, not bothering anyone, and the phone was
ringing... "Is Ken Gaub there?" the operator interrupted, "I have a
long distance call for him."
It took a moment to gain control of my babbling,
but I finally replied, "Yes, he is here." Searching for a possible
explanation, I wondered if I could possibly be on Candid Camera! Still
shaken, perplexed, I asked, "How in the world did you reach me here? I
was walking down the road, the pay phone started ringing, and I just
answered it on chance. You can't mean me."
"Well," the operator asked, "is Mr. Gaub there or
isn't he?" "Yes, I am Ken Gaub," I said, finally convinced by the tone
of her voice that the call was real. Then I heard another voice say,
"Yes, that's him, operator. That's Ken Gaub."
I listened dumbfounded to a strange voice
identify herself. "I'm Millie from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. You don't
know me, Mr. Gaub, but I'm desperate. Please help me."
"What can I do for you?"
She began weeping. Finally she regained control
and continued. "I was about to commit suicide, had just finished
writing a note, when I began to pray and tell God I really didn't want
to do this. Then I suddenly remembered seeing you on television and
thought if I could just talk to you, you could help me. I knew that was
impossible because I didn't know how to reach you, I didn't know anyone
who could help me find you. Then some numbers came to my mind, and I
scribbled them down."
At this point she began weeping again, and I
prayed silently for wisdom to help her. She continued, "I looked at the
numbers and thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if I had a miracle from
God, and He has given me Ken's phone number?' I decided to try calling
it. I can't believe I'm talking to you. Are you in your office in
California?" I replied, "Lady, I don't have an office in California. My
office is in Yakima, Washington." A little surprised, she asked, "Oh
really, then where are you?" "Don't you know?" I responded. "You made
the call." She explained, "But I don't even know what area I'm calling.
I just dialed the number that I had on this paper." "Ma'am, you won't
believe this, but I'm in a phone booth in Dayton, Ohio!" "Really?" she
exclaimed. "Well, what are you doing there?" I kidded her gently,
"Well, I'm answering the phone. It was ringing as I walked by, so I
answered it."
Knowing this encounter could only have been
arranged by God, I began to counsel the woman. As she told me of her
despair and frustration, the presence of the Holy Spirit flooded the
phone booth giving me words of wisdom beyond my ability. In a matter of
moments, she prayed the sinner's prayer and met the One who would lead
her out of her situation into a new life.
I walked away from that telephone booth with an
electrifying sense of our heavenly Father's concern for each of His
children. What were the astronomical odds of this happening? With all
the millions of phones and innumerable combinations of numbers, only an
all-knowing God could have caused that woman to call that number in
that phone booth at that moment in time.
Forgetting my drink and nearly bursting with
exhilaration, I headed back to my family, wondering if they would
believe my story. Maybe I better not tell this, I thought, but I
couldn't contain it. "Barb, you won't believe this! God knows where I
am!"
God also knows where you are. Place yourself in
His hands and concentrate on knowing His will for your life. He will
never forsake or forget you.
(By Ken Gaub - Yakima, Washington)