“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for”  (1 John 5:14, 15). 

It was 10:55 AM. I had to be there at 11:00 AM. I was carrying my Bible and the book Prophets and Kings in one arm, while I held my umbrella in the other. I had found some quotes I wanted to share before we began choir practice and I wanted to be on time. I was walking down the sidewalk and she was in front of me.

I could pretend I hadn’t seen her and not pass by, but I was undergoing an internal struggle that prevented me from ignoring her. I had just finished my morning devotion and had prayed asking God to help me serve Him, to help me surrender to Him completely.

That struggle, which only lasted a couple of seconds, takes place thousands of times a day between our selfishness and our surrender.

“Hi! Would you like me to help you with those bags?” I asked while I saw her coming out of the supermarket. It was drizzling lightly, and she was attempting to carry three heavy bags.

“I was just praying for someone to help me!“ she replied with surprise. We crossed the street, walked through the town square and got to her house. While we were walking, she said, “You don’t know how grateful I am that God answered my prayer. I’m so discouraged these days… I live alone. I’m 85 years old, I’m a widow and have no children. I want you to pray for me. I have so many internal struggles. Do you have them too?” I smiled to myself and though: If she only knew…

We prayed together, thanked God for showing His love and providence so clearly and read the following:

«Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on God» (Prophets and Kings, ch. 13, p. 174).

We hugged and bid each other farewell.

I was late to practice, but I didn’t care. I knew I had made the right decision and I arrived just in time to hear, “His sovereign power, without our aid, made us of clay, and formed us men; and when like wandering sheep we strayed, He brought us to His fold again.”

In God ‘s clock, things happen right on time. He knows all things. Among them, He knows our internal struggles and, if we allow Him to, He will win the victory forever.

Don’t doubt when you hear that voice today calling you to go against your selfishness. God will greatly reward you.