Be careful when telling God, “Nope. Not happening. Ever.”

Because he might just make a liar out of you.

A while back I talked about participating in a summer evangelist group through the Salvation Army (Where There’s Smoke).

The first summer I participated, it was one of the most exhausting, challenging, and fulfilling experiences of my life.

So the next summer, a few people asked if I would go again the next year. I adamantly said no. I wanted to give other people a chance to experience the same.

Then came the night before the new team was scheduled to begin. I received a phone call at about 9pm from the coordinator practically begging me to join, because they desperately needed one more person.

I, of course, gave him my unqualified, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

He then gave me his phone number and said to call him no matter how late in case I changed my mind. Yep, he was that desperate.

Over the next few hours, God placed upon my heart to call him back and tell him I would go. It was a grueling mental wrestling match, and of course God won out. I got up and told my mom she needed to drive me to church at 7am, because I decided to join the Roadshow after all.

My mom was not impressed being told to do something with almost no notice, so she said I couldn’t go.

I figured the wresting match was all in my head, and God didn’t want me to go after all. That lasted about fifteen minutes, because my mom came into my room and said I could go.

I found out later the reason the supervisor called me so late is because he didn’t want me to be a part of it. No idea why, but it doesn’t matter anyway. God’s desire over who should or shouldn’t have gone is all that matters. I also found out later that everyone thought I was the best evangelist of the team, because I often spent more time with people than anyone else. After I thought about, I realized I was always the last one back in our bus at each site. At the time I felt bad that I was always holding up the team, but again, God’s plan is always better than our own.

I do hope that extra time made a difference to the people I met and talked to. I think so, but it had nothing to do with me.

It had everything to do with God.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” ~ Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)