Our Best Answer
by Robin Tyler
3139, her number, 2262, my number. Can you go? Will you come? What are you doing? Where are we going? When will you be here? What time does it start? Who’s driving? How long can you stay? Can you go? Who can we tell? My best friend and I knew each other’s number by heart. The plans made, and questions asked, were in the thousands. Fourth grade we met. Twelfth grade we graduated. If our phone minutes were crossties, we could likely lay train track across central Arkansas.
Phone calls, at that time, were made on a hand held device plugged into the wall with twisted cords coming from it. The cords would be stretched across the room to a comfortable chair or sofa and our conversation could be heard all over the house, as one phone was all that was in the house. Sometimes the preferred position for those conversations was lying in the middle of the floor with feet propped up on a wall. We would talk about our plans, scheduling times, dates, and how the event would hopefully unfold. The planning and scheduling would be the highlight of our week. Our conversations, at times, lasted into the late hours of the night. Listening intently, it was as if I could feel the breath of my friend coming through the phone.
In 1980, God called. I answered, as well as other youth attending the youth rally. He had my number. Who knew? He asked, “Will you come?” On my knees, I said, “Yes Lord, but I need you. I cannot do this on my own.” Kneeling beside my pastor, a man who was like a second daddy and my best friend’s dad, I answered the most important call of my life. All He asks of anyone is, “Will you come?” Our best answer is, “Yes Lord, but I need you. I cannot do this on my own.”
After the initial call “to come,” it’s highly probable God will make other calls. Can you drive? Will you teach? How long will you stay? Will you pray? Can you cut, color, and glue? Can you sing? Can you read? Will you forgive? What dish can you prepare? Will you write? Can you staple, tape, and copy? Will you rock a baby? Can you be patient? Will you love? How far will you travel? Can you go? Will you tell? Answering these calls will be the highlight of your life. You will never be the same. The plans made and the questions asked will be in the thousands. Answering His calls can last into the late hours of the night, or the wee hours of the morning. Listen intently; it’s almost as if God’s breath can be felt as He whispers each call. Our best answer will be, “Yes Lord, but I need you. I cannot do this on my own.”
Verses:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16 KJV (God’s call)
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” — Psalm 121:1–8 KJV (God’s help)
“And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV (God’s sufficiency)
Prayer:
Yes Lord, but I need you. I cannot do this on my own.
