Here is a story he told me:
I was packing 3 large suitcases for my trip home to Malaysia, and I was trying to get them all in the car before I went to bed as I needed to depart for the airport at 5:15 a.m. I wanted to weigh each suitcase before putting them in the car. I have a hand-held scale I use to weigh things but after weighing one bag, I could not find it.
I looked for at least 20 minutes…nothing. I needed to go to bed, and I was getting frustrated. Then I remembered Bill’s method of finding things so I prayed, “Jesus, I need my hand-held scale, it’s 9:42:20 p.m. Please find my scale.”
I was in the kitchen at the time, and immediately I had an impression to look down. I looked around the kitchen floor, no that must mean I thought to go downstairs. Now I had already rummaged the downstairs closet, even the garage, the car, the car trunk—nothing. But obediently, down I went.
Our condo is a walk up, we live on the second floor. Downstairs we have only two spaces, a storage closet and the garage—so it should be simple, right? I had torn the closet apart already as that’s where I last remembered having the scale, so I first headed back out to the car. Maybe I put it in the suitcase I had weighed…nope not there.
I had already searched the car so I walked back into the house to try the closet again, and guess what I saw sitting inside my shoe by the door? Yep, the scale.
Time: 9:44:05 p.m. I had walked past that shoe at least 4 times in the past 22 minutes but I had not looked down. Now why didn’t I ask Him first?
John 16:24 says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
Frustrated? Anxious about things? Whatever is bothering us, remember; Jesus enjoys sharing His joy. We don’t need to figure it out, what we need to do is ask.
PATRICK LAI and his family have worked in SE Asia for over 37 years. His experience in doing business with Jesus has brought him to understand the meaning of work and worship in the marketplace. He started 14 businesses in four countries, six of which are still operating. Patrick and his wife, May, mentor and coach businesspeople working where there are few or no Christians. Check out Patrick’s latest book, Workship, now available in paperback and e-book.