When I finally decided to follow Christ I was middle aged. My wife and I started church hopping to make sure we got into the “correct” church. After several months we finally selected one and began our journey. I grabbed every opportunity I could to work in the church. I wanted to please God. I drove the churches old Trailways bus on trips. I bought the church supplies from Sam’s. I filled the Pepsi machines, I worked in VBS, I taught Sunday school classes, I took an active part in the churches remodel and expansion projects, I went with others to teach at the City Rescue Mission and anything else they needed a volunteer for I was there. If the doors were open at the church, I was there. Then one day my world turned upside down. I lost my job. This was during the oil bust in the 80?s and there weren’t many jobs to be had. Day after day of hearing sorry we don’t have anything or no we can’t use you, started to wear on me. Why isn’t God answering my prayers? Soon depression set in and it grew more difficult to get out of bed each day to go job hunting. It was much easier to assume the fetal position and pull the covers up over my head. My wife had a job but she didn’t make enough to cover our bills. Soon the mortgage company is wanting their payments as are the people who financed our car and my pick-up. I could not understand why God was allowing this to happen to me. We were about to lose everything. After all I was one of the hardest working people in our church. What did I do wrong? Didn’t God know I was on his side? Then one night at Wednesday night prayer meeting it was all made clear to me. The preacher was reading the scripture that he was going to preach from and as I read along with him in my bible I understood what God was doing and I started sobbing uncontrollably. The preacher was reading from the 12th chapter of Hebrews verses 6-11. I now understood that God loved me and considered me a son.
Gerry Rhodes