No One There Or?

By Ruth Kastberg
Staff Writer

CBN.com – It was Friday night and I was feeling pretty discouraged.

My church had asked me to pioneer a ministry to a special ethnic group. After prayer I knew it was God's purpose for me, and I gladly accepted.

A few weeks into this, I felt pretty lonely. When you pioneer something, there is no previous framework to follow. The only mandate I had was "reach them for Christ." I didn't have anyone to work with me. I was pretty much on my own. Where do I start? What do I do?

I called one of my friends -- she wasn't home. I called another one -- no answer. I called a third one -- same result. Wasn't there anyone who had time for me? I really needed to talk to somebody. I was feeling so down.

That's when I opened my Bible and my eyes fell on a scripture that I had read many times before, but never with the meaning it had for me that day.

When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus (Matt. 17:8).

I started crying before Him. My friends where not there right then, but Jesus was. He had been there all along. I talked to Him for a long while. I told Him of my insecurities, and that I did not know what to do next. His love filled the room and peace filled my soul.

After a few hours I was full of joy, peace, purpose, and the knowledge of what to do next.

I woke up early the next morning. I couldn't wait to get going. With my guitar in hand I headed for the square where this group of people frequently gathered. It was in the middle of the winter, with cold and snow, but I had only one goal in my mind; to sing them into the Kingdom.

So out came the guitar, and I sat down on a bench in the square and started singing in their language. It didn't take long before I could see them stand here and there listening. A few weeks later the first family received the Lord as their Savior, and many followed over the next couple of years.

God is so awesome! Sometimes we get so caught up in the daily things that we forget that He is right there, even when everybody else is gone. And the greatest thing is that He has the best answer!

Maybe you've been feeling alone, with no one to share your burdens. You know what? You are not alone. Jesus is right there! And He does have the answer, or the touch, or the peace, or the joy or whatever the depth of your soul is screaming for.

Just talk to Him.