I have always loved the story of Elijah seeking the Lord under the broom tree. Not because it is a particularly pleasant story, but because of the lesson: Listen to the small still voice – it is God speaking!

I heard that voice this week and ignored it to my regret. I had a phone call as I was leaving the house for an appointment. I answered the call and then put my mobile down on the trunk of my car. (Yes, I did!) As I did this, a very clear voice said, “That’s not a good idea.”

I was in a rush and had other things on my mind, so I didn’t pay attention to that voice. Instead, I got into my car and drove off for lunch. (Yes, the phone was still on the trunk of my car.) Later, I realized that I didn’t have the phone with me. I had completely forgotten about the voice and where my phone was last seen.

It wasn’t in my car. It wasn’t in the garage. It wasn’t in the house. It was gone. Those of you who know me will understand the magnitude of that loss. Then I remembered that small voice with the serious warning. Oh, why hadn’t I listened?

I retreated to the trusty “Find My Phone” app on my iPad which showed my that my phone was located at the corner of SR 200 and SW 99th St. “No way!” says I. I envisioned it laying crushed in the middle of a very busy highway.

Off I went to retrieve the pieces, worrying the whole time about what to do to replace it quickly. My dear husband drove me, so that I could get out of the car and try to find it. He was not optimistic about it being where the GPS had located it. Imagine my surprise and delight when I found the phone exactly where indicated and whole, barely a blemish. Yes, there were a few scratches and dings on the cover, but the screen was unbroken, and it worked perfectly.

My gratitude for a personal God who watches over me, even for issues like a lost phone, is difficult to put into words. How big a “thank you” can I give? How often can I say that I will listen in the future? This is the God who loves me unconditionally, who loves you unconditionally. The God who knows that I won’t always listen to the small, still voice, and won’t ever leave me because I don’t. What Love!

Read 1Kings 19: 11-13

Terri