“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.” James 5:7

I overheard a conversation, I wanted to jump into the dialogue, but I had to go and more importantly, I would have to admit that I was eavesdropping, so I moved on. “He’s just in it for the money,” the man said. He named the author of a best-selling Christian book. “It’s simplistic. Over-hyped. I can’t believe it’s sold so many copies.” This conversation made me think about a youth I had worked with, Ann.

When I first met Ann she was a new believer. Occasionally our pastor would ask people to pray together. On those Sundays our youth opened  their arms and Ann joined. But as much as she loved it, it wasn’t her family.  Her parents didn’t understand her faith. Her older brother mocked her faith.

Ann went on mission trips. She was involved in youth group. She left for college and organized campus ministries, and even traveled to Africa to minister to children with AIDS. The longing for her family to love Jesus intensified, but from the outside looking in it appeared that her prayers were hitting the ceiling.  What Ann didn’t know is that her brother was watching closely. His little sister’s faith had grown and now she was a person of faith.

One day he bought a book and read it straight through the night. Somewhere between dark and dawn Ann’s Savior became his. In the next few months he led his fiancé to Christ. He shared his faith with his parents, and now that both of their children’s lives had been changed, they too became believers. That was four years ago. Recently, I was told, Ann came home to visit her family, and they all came to church. I couldn’t help but look back with excitement remembering when I heard these words, “Could families gather together and pray?” Ann walked down the aisle. Her family wrapped her in their arms. It was a beautiful sight, I was told.

And the book that the man had said was simplistic and overhyped? That was the very book that Ann’s brother read that changed his life. It was an answer to a faithful girl’s prayers.

What does this have to do with you and me? As a writer, every day I’m in my home-office wearing jeans and a T-shirt writing on a computer, hoping that someone might actually hear the message. But I can’t see the bigger picture. I don’t know if the words are making a difference or not. All I know is that God called me to communicate a message and to be faithful to that call.

Maybe there are days that you struggle, too. Maybe all you hear are the negative comments like those of the man. But does that mean that nothing good is happening? Absolutely not!  When I think of Ann, I am encouraged to place my ministry in God’s hands and allow Him to do the miracles while I type one word at a time.  Will you trust Him to do miracles with your faith and your work as well?

Dear Father, I don’t always see the bigger picture, but You do. Today I place my discouragement and comments of others in Your hands. Thank You for wisdom, encouragement, and renewed joy as I trust You with the bigger picture. Amen.