I am on the board of a small church. One day, the chair of the board called me to discuss an issue. A member had made a request to the church. It would be awkward and potentially unwise for the church to grant the request. But not granting the request might leave the requester feeling embarrassed or angry. This was a sticky situation with no easy way out.

Relying on my best wisdom, I suggested that two board members meet the requester in person and try to explain the church’s position in as gentle a way as possible. Complicated circumstances made that approach impossible. The situation was made worse by the short time frame needed to make a decision.

The next morning, I was sitting in my room trying to finish my devotions when the Lord spoke to my heart. Call the person who made the request. My immediate response was to delay. Maybe I’ll do that later, I’ve got a lot on my plate this morning. And it’s not my problem anyway. But I put my Bible down and called him. That turned out to be a wise decision and diffused the situation. The requester thanked me the next day. My relationship with him deepened.

What’s the point? God speaks to us. He has solutions for the little problems we face each day. Sometimes it is just a matter of paying attention to the thoughts he gives.

Photo by Michael Morse