James 1:12-18.        

As a young pastor in Nebraska, I was once offered a church in Florida—in the dead of winter! Driving 90 miles on ice to Omaha made me late for my flight. I assumed the Lord was not in it.

At the gate I found the flight was delayed, so I thought, “The Lord is in it!” As the plane backed away, a woman reached to pull herself up in her seat, pulling a lever that released an escape chute, cancelling the flight. I thought, “The Lord is not in it!” The counter agent checked for another flight, and one miraculously popped up with one seat remaining. I surmised, “The Lord is in it!”

Reading James 1 on my return flight, I came across verse 14, how we’re tempted by our own desires. I thought, “It’s okay to want to pastor a stronger church and reach more people.” Then verse 15 addresses desires becoming sin and eventually death. Verse 16: “Do not be deceived”! That’s when I decided, “The Lord was not in it,” and we remained in Nebraska.

God continued to bless our ministry there in the Midwest. He promises to bless as long as we persevere.

Author: Danny Goddard