I had a certain reputation in high school.
I wasn't a bad girl or even known for being a good girl.
I was The Christian Girl. You know the one, don't you? I carried my Bible in my backpack and when I felt especially brave, I put it out on my desk with my name boldly inscribed on the front in small gold letters.
I took my dates (the few I had) to church youth events, or to the altar if I really liked them. I started the first Bible Club on campus with my sister and I prayed for my lost friends.
On one particular night, I remember laying in bed crying and praying for my classmates.
There was no great revival or harvest of souls in my high school. I graduated and went to Bible College where I met my husband and lived happily ever after. High school was but a memory (and even somewhat painful at that).
I haven't thought about those classmates from nearly twenty years ago very often. I've learned of a few on Facebook, but I'm not one to pine for the past.
But sometimes the past meets the present and God's Sovereignty arranges a meeting you can't imagine when you're just a teenager.
We've been at our church for several years. We teach Sunday School each week to the elementary kids and love the children's ministry. There's a certain teacher that has really captured my kid's attention. He is funny and charismatic and he loves God.
Through a strange coincidence of events, I made an unbelievable discovery:
The man teaching my children about Jesus every week went to my high school. We shared several classes together and graduated the same year. Although there was something vaguely familiar about him, I hadn't recognized his transformation. He was a long-haired, head banger and ran with the bad crowd in school.
We've talked about the unusual coincidence and I laughingly said, "I prayed for you in school!"
He answered me seriously, "It worked. Thank you"
It's amazing to see your prayers answered, twenty years later. It's amazing that I was surprised. Does God's Word not say in Isa 55:11……. "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
It's not about being The Christian Girl. It's about serving a big God who is working in ways we can't even imagine–even when it seems like nothing is happening.
(Pssst…You're making a difference, whether you know it yet or not.)
I'm reminded of the girl I used to be and I want to be more like her every day…except maybe with cooler clothes.
by Kristen, We are THAT family
grace says
long story short; we run a school of ministry, one our students at an event that we serve at ran into his old science teacher, who he always knew in highschool that that teacher was a christian, but didn’t care at all…at the time.
Meeting up with his teacher at this event, he found out that this teacher had prayed and prayed and prayed for this guy, and had felt very specifically that two kids in that exact science would one day be walking with the Lord.
It was awesome to see his prayer answered!
I guess there really is hope in our prayers!…even the christian girl prayers we prayed so many years ago–yeah, I say we, I was that “christian girl” too. just don’t make me wear my “i’m the christian the devil warned you about” shirt again. it was all neon colors too. oi vey.
Christine says
Thank you for writing this. 🙂 I am planning to enter into the mission field of teaching again. And, it was encouragement to me to keep praying for those teenagers. God has His hand on them. Blessings to you! 🙂
hollywood housewife says
Why are we always so shocked when prayer works?
I always feel like these kinds of stories happen to OTHER people, to OTHER families, but it’s not true. God hears my words and then I’m the only one who is surprised by the effects.
Good reminder today and a great story.
Kristen@Moms Sharpening Moms says
What a wonderfully encouraging post, Kristen! I bet heaven will be full of these kinds of stories, huh? So fun to get glimpses into them in the hear and now!
Southern Gal says
If we could only grasp the power of prayer we would continually be on our knees. Thank you for sharing.
Jennifer says
Thank you for sharing that side of yourself. I was THAT girl in high school too. Thank you for reminding me that we never pray a prayer or cry a tear for others in vain. God is faithful, and His Spirit is working in others’ lives LONG past the time we prayed the prayer or cried the tear. This is exciting to me!
Paige says
Wow! I truly needed to read these words this morning. Thank you for sharing and speaking directly to my heart.
Collen says
This made me teary-eyed. I’ve spent about half of my life being the only Christian girl, surrounded by non-believers. It’s so encouraging to hear stories about the power of prayer. Now I work with at-risk teenage girls, and I will not give up the fight! Thanks for the encouragement to keep praying.
Marci@OvercomingBusy says
Tears in my eyes… It is so encouraging to know that God is working even if we don’t see it. We can just have faith that he is. Thanks for the reminder to not stop doing what we are supposed to be doing!
Candy says
Thank you so much for your reminder that we serve a mighty God who, way more than we, wants all His children home again! I was that Christian girl and am that Christian mom, praying for teenage daughters who are dancing close to the edge.
jeri says
I love this story! The power of prayer…you never know the work the good Lord may do.
Kate says
Thanks for this encouraging post! It’s such motivation to keep on praying for people I know, even when I can’t see the answers to my prayers just yet.
Melissa Howard says
Those are the reminders we sometimes need…beautiful testimony.
Jim Fruehan says
Awesome, Great story. It is a special gift from God when He allows us to see some the fruits of our labor. It encourages us to do more, and in your case to put another twenty years into the effort. Would you join us and please pray for our ministry, God knows our needs.
Jim
Jireh Ministries Foundation
Abbie says
Yay! I love it when we get to see the answers to our prayers – especially when it’s a long time coming and is unexpected. Or when it’s sooner. Thanks for the reminder to keep praying even for the long-haired, bad-crowd kid. Because it’s worth it.
Marsha says
Thank you so much for sharing this, Kristen! You are right. God is working and we never know the difference we can make for those that He sends across our path.
Elaina says
Thanks for the post Kristen. Sometimes, when you don’t see the results right away, it’s hard to keep praying. At least it is for me anyway. That’s such a neat story!
Interesting Links: May 2010 Edition says
[…] Recapturing the Girl I Used to Be by Kristen @ We are THAT Family encouraged me. Though we may not see immediate results, we serve a big God! […]
Maylee says
I was the opposite. I wanted to be with the bad crowd even though I clearly was not. Dated the guys who were not shy to express themselves. And ultimately created a false reputation of myself to others. Most that knew me at that time thought I was a wild child and probably many prayed for me, prayed for my parents and so now when they see me again after two decades, are quite surprised of the life I am living.
Little did anyone then knew how different I wanted to be than everyone in my community. Always wanted to be someone other than plain Jane only in the end to become plain Jane. God knows the plans He has for me even when I made every attempt to veer off the road He has already placed. I am brought back again…. Our God is Awesome!