Who Gets the Book?

By Laura Williams

I recently spent some time in the US state of Ohio. On the last day of my visit, I joined a group going door to door handing out The Great Controversy, a book about the history of the Christian church and the battle for good and evil between Christ and Satan. When we finished, everyone else had given away their books, except for me. I had one book left and could not find anyone else to give it to. I decided to save it, just in case I met someone in the airport the next day.

I arrived at the airport bright and early the next morning. As I stood at the gate, waiting to board my next flight, the thought came to my mind, "I wonder who I will give my last book to?"

Immediately, my attention was drawn to a man standing beside me. A strong feeling to give him the book came over me and I could not ignore it. After some hesitation, I walked up to him and asked him if I could give him a book. He just looked at me and said, "NO!" Then, he would not talk to or acknowledge me at all after that. I was puzzled and wondered why I had felt impressed to give the book to him! This man was on my mind for the entire plane ride. As I got off the plane, I got another strong impression that I should wait there at the gate until he got off the plane, just in case he had changed his mind. So I did. He was one of the last people off the plane, but when he saw me (I was just casually standing and staring at my phone beside the gate), he quickly walked the other direction and disappeared into the crowd.

"Well, that's that," I thought. "I won't be seeing him again." I couldn't understand what the point of any of this was. I started to head toward my gate, but again a VERY strong impression came to me NOT to leave that gate.

So, I stood there completely puzzled and wondering why I should not leave this gate. I saw a group of nuns come in and sit down. "Oh! Maybe that's who I should give it to!" I started to walk toward the nuns, but then I thought about the other man and how there must be a reason why everything had happened.

What if I gave the book to the nuns and then ran into the other man again and he had changed his mind? I'd have nothing to give him! So I just stood there for about 30 minutes, not knowing what I should do. Finally, I just prayed, "Lord, I have no idea who I should give this book too! I don't want to give it to the wrong person. I will give it to the very next person who talks to me! Send the person you want to have this book to talk to me."

Seconds later, a man sitting across from the group of nuns got up and walked all the way over to where I stood and said, "Hello! Are you religious?"

"Yes, I am."

"Yeah, I am too, I suppose. We have so many religions in my family. Baptist, Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jewish, etc. Family reunions sure get interesting at my house."

It was like a bell went off in my head! It was clear; this was the person I needed to give the book to. I reached into my bag and said, "Hey! I've got something for you!"

He took one look at it and started smiling. "Is that a book about religious history?" he said. "I LOVE those kind of books! I find them fascinating. I certainly want to read this book!"

I gave him the book and he walked away just like that.

As I stood there amazed, I suddenly realized what the purpose was of asking the first man. God directed my attention to him, knowing that waiting for him at the gate would be the only way to get me to stay there long enough to meet this other man. I would have gotten off the plane and kept on walking without thinking twice about it.

I was a little discouraged and surprised when the first man did not take the book, but I learned that we should not give up when rejected. Maybe that rejection will lead you to the right person, one who really wants what you have to offer.

Laura Williams is a recording artist and singer, seeking to dedicate all her talents to God’s service. She and her husband are from Washington but work in music ministry wherever God calls. You can learn more about their ministry by visiting: https://www.laurawilliamsmusic.com

To download this week's blog and prayer requests, click here!

World Church Prayer Requests

July 1 - 8, 2018

• PRAYER REQUEST: A community in Eldoret, Kenya, built a health center for health evangelism. Please pray for the staff at this Seventh-day Adventist operated facility. Their biggest need right now is for more health workers. Please pray that God will provide.

• PRAYER REQUEST: Please continue pray for the thousands of refugees forced from their homes. As the crisis continues, pray for individuals willing to learn how to reach resettled refugees from different faith backgrounds. Pray especially for volunteers to help in the large urban areas where most refugees have been resettled.

• PRAYER REQUEST: Many camp meetings are occurring across North America and around the world this summer. Please pray that God will bless these meetings and that church members will be inspired to greater service for the Kingdom.

• PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for the many Adventist young people who graduated this Spring. Pray that God will help them make the right decisions for their future.

• PRAYER REQUEST: Please continue to pray for our church leaders worldwide as they travel, teach, mentor, share, and carry very busy schedules. Pray that they will guard their daily time with God, and that the Holy Spirit will be poured out on all they do.