Unfortunate Mishaps

Before she went into the hospital, she put her wedding ring in a small wooden box and placed it in her closet for safekeeping.

She tucked it under some padding, planning to retrieve it when she came home. While she was in the hospital, her kind husband decided he would clean up around the house and get rid of surplus items by selling them in a community yard sale.

As he searched the house, the helpful husband discovered the little box in his closet. He sold it for $10. His wife’s wedding ring inside the box was worth $23,000. His problem was that he didn’t know the valuable ring was in the little box.

Just a little communication would have saved a lot of anguish. Many of the spiritual problems people experience are due to a lack of communication. Paul encouraged his readers to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Prayer is communication with God. Anyone can pray, and it requires no special skill. In all of life’s details, we should sense a call to prayer.

Our prayers can be prayers of thanks, praise, supplication, or confession, and they can be for ourselves or for others.
There is never a shortage of things to pray about, yet many people regret that their prayer life is inadequate or powerless. In the Bible, God communicated directly with people in remarkable ways. He communicated with Daniel through visions and dreams. He called to Saul on the road to Damascus and spoke to the young child Samuel in the darkness of night. The same God wishes to communicate with you in just as meaningful a way. If your prayer life isn’t what it should be, it isn’t too late to turn things around.

Incredibly, the person who purchased the wooden box saw a news story about the couple’s unfortunate situation, and the ring was returned.

If your lack of communication with God has complicated your life, it can still work out well. Make it your practice to speak often with God.

As you do, your life will be richly blessed.