Show Me a Sign
By Judith Gillis
“….He turned to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1
Winter dusk was closing in as I drove out for a few quick errands. My day had been one of solitude, tears, and prayers about the difficult circumstances in my life at the moment. Challenges that seemed unremitting despite prayers for God to intervene and bring resolution.
As I drove, I felt so weary. It seemed like God was a thousand miles away. “Lord, please send some comfort to me tonight,” I whispered. “Make your message so big and real that I cannot miss it. Put it on a billboard for me!” I admit, my prayer seemed silly and shallow, but in my dispirited frame of mind, it was the best I could do.
Jesus says ask. Unadorned, simple, straightforward. Ask. I asked. He answered. Driving back home a short while later, I rounded the corner to my street and slowed to pull in the driveway. Lo and behold, the illuminated sign on the church across the road read, “Come to me, all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. Big bold black letters on their billboard! I could not miss it. Nobody could!
Thankfully no cars were behind me because I slowed to a crawl and read it again. There were the very words of comfort I so desperately needed. On a billboard and lit up like a Christmas tree! It only took a moment for my gloomy mood to vanish and for praise to fill my heart. You need a bigger-than-life billboard answer from God? Ask! Just ask! He is more than able to answer. I know.
The very next day, workmen took the billboard down and replaced it with a sign saying, “Faith Center Church.” I found out the new sign was meant to be in place a month earlier but arrived damaged and had to be returned for a replacement. In the meantime, the old sign emblazoned with Jesus’ words was left in place. Their fancy, new sign came the day after my prayer.
“Ask and ye shall receive…” Matthew 7:7