A devotional by Kate Martin

Running errands with my busy 18-month-old daughter can be a challenge.  In this current season, when I go into a store, my goal is to get in and out of the store as fast as possible.  Anything to avoid having a toddler that is trying to climb out of the cart, grab everything of the shelves, or throwing a fit.

On Thursday afternoon, my perspective of this goal changed during a trip to Hobby Lobby.  I went to Hobby Lobby to buy some supplies for a student ministry girl’s paint night that we are having.  I knew exactly what part of the store to go to.  It was going to be a fast stop.  I had my cart loaded in no time with wooden signs for the teens to paint on and Lucy no longer fit into the cart. We made our way from the back of the store to the check out, balancing her with one arm and pushing the cart with the other.

Right as it was our turn to check out, Lucy saw the candy display beside the checkout counter.  As you can imagine, Lucy wanted to touch every piece of candy on display.  The cashier began ringing up my many items and a lady in line behind me asked what I was going to be painting. In, what I felt like was a chaotic moment, I quickly said “Oh, I am not sure what we are going to paint.  It is for an event for the teen girls at my church.”

I turned from her, and looked at the cashier, and the cashier said, “Oh, you go to church.  I have a question for you.” Ummmm…  I realized in that moment that maybe God had put me here for a reason!  The cashier proceeded to ask a couple of questions about what kind of Church I go to and what we believe and who God is. She shared along the way that she had stopped going to church after being confirmed as a child.

I was able to share that we are saved by grace alone and that the free gift of salvation is available to all. After sharing a few details about our church, she handed me my receipt and the long line behind me ushered me toward the exit.  As I was walking to the car, I felt like there was something else that I should have done.  I started driving to the next store to continue my errands, but then I decided to turn around and go back to Hobby Lobby.

As we approached the cashier again, Lucy went right to the candy and began rearranging their whole shelf.  I, again, was working to get her to stop while explaining to the cashier that I wanted to come back to give her my number and the name of our church in case if she had any more questions.  She told me how the lady in line behind me also gave her her phone number as she was a Christian as well!  She asked me a few more questions about our Church and expressed some interest in coming and we went our separate ways.

This situation reminded me how easy it can be to blow off opportunities to even mention our faith in Christ. Or to shut down conversation with strangers cause your in a hurry and naptime is approaching. What if we were willing to slow down and be available to minister to the people we pass by every day?

Pastor Steve’s sermon “Are you Available” helped me see that similar to the story of feeding the 5,000 in John 6 the cashier I met had an overwhelming need since she is not in a relationship with Christ. And while my hasty and distracted conversation may be an insufficient solution, we have an all-powerful Savior who can bring abundant provision.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15

Because you never know when God might use you, right where you are, if you’re available.