Why Wait Until a Crisis?

Why Wait Until a Crisis?

You heard the one about Tom and the flood. The river was rising. The radio advised residents to leave. “I’m not leaving until God rescues me,” said Tom. The river rose and was pouring down his street. There was a pounding at his door. A voice announced, “Get out before the river rises.” Tom said, “I’m not leaving until God rescues me.” The river rose over the first floor. A boat came by. A voice shouted, “Get in the boat before the river rises higher!” “I’m not leaving until God rescues me,” Tom retorted. The river rose. Tom was on the roof. It was a crisis. A helicopter came and tossed Tom a line. Tom shouted, “I’m not leaving until God rescues me.” The water rose, and Tom died. At the pearly gates, Tom mouthed off to God. “I prayed that you would rescue me, and you didn’t." God says, “I spoke to you on your radio. I knocked at your door. I shouted from a boat. I sent a helicopter. What more do you want from me?"

When God speaks to us, do we listen? If God is trying to get a message to us, God whispers, then speaks, and then shouts, and lastly God gives us a crisis. The trick is having the wisdom to listen.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, when You whisper, let us hear. When You speak, let us hear. When You shout, give us ears. When crisis comes, let us gain understanding. Give us the wisdom to act on the whisper, or the courage in the face of crisis. Amen.

Today’s Thought Is: In whisper, message, shouting and crisis, God speaks to us.