Several years ago a young lady walked into our church service. She was unkempt, wearing shorts, a sleeveless shirt, and flip flops.  Not wanting to be recognized, she quickly seated herself at the back, leaving as soon as we closed with prayer. Unfortunately, no one had the opportunity to speak with her, however, that evening she returned.  During the closing prayer I moved to the back of the church so I could introduce myself.  

As we spoke, I realized she was a troubled seventeen-year old with problems only God could handle.  When she left, I noticed she walked past the parking lot heading towards the street. I caught up with her and asked if we could give her a ride home to which she graciously declined. 

The following Wednesday she visited again, this time bringing her twelve-year old sister.  In closing the service, I invited anyone who wished to come forward for prayer.  She and her sister were the first to respond with several of our ladies praying with them. They stayed at the altar only  for a moment and then quietly moved towards the door.  Everyone could see they were struggling. I told them how happy we were to have them both and that if we could help in any way, we would. 

That comment seemed to grab the elder sisters attention and she asked if she could speak with me for a moment. The moment stretched into an hour as she shared her story. One morning she woke to find that her parents had deserted them. Without any finances she had to quit school to provide housing, food, and keep her younger sister in school. With little to no work experience she began selling drugs, which led to prostitution. 

As we spoke, she said “I know this is wrong, but if I change, where would I go or who could I turn to? If I stop selling drugs or working for my pimp, we could be beaten or even killed. If we  lived , the authorities would take my sister and I would probably never see her again!” Deception and fear were ruling her life.  

2nd  Thessalonians 2:4 forewarns that when we buy into satan’s deception we’ve given him an open door to our minds, moving from room to room until his takeover is complete.  He had deceived this young lady into believing there was no hope. I did my best to explain if she would bring her brokenness to God, He would take it and make something beautiful from it, but that the decision was ultimately hers.  

The devil works with all of us this way, doesn’t he? He lies telling us there is no hope, not even with God. That’s exactly how satan dealt with King David in Psalm 3 as he fled for his life.  In this Psalm, he openly prays his feelings, saying that his life was over. The good news is before the chapter closes,David readjusts his thinking and ultimately overcomes! I encourage everyone to read this short psalm. It gives hope in times of hopelessness. 

Linda asked if we could drive them home, but she again declined. As they were leaving, I said, “Remember, God loves you and He’s ready when you are.”  We went to bed that evening with heavy hearts, committing both of these children into God’s care. 

In the first chapter of John Stott’s book, “Why I Am A Christian”, he confesses he is a Christian not because of the influence of his parents and teachers, nor to his own personal decision, but to being relentlessly pursued by the Hound of heaven, that is Jesus Christ himself. How true this is!  Whenever we feel that hope is gone, the Hound of heaven relentlessly pursues us!

He sifts through our despair and brokenness until He finds us, then gently places us on his shoulder and carries us home. Around 2:00 a.m. our doorbell rang. Looking through the small peephole, I saw the young woman holding a large grocery bag. When I opened the door, she pushed the grocery bag into my hands. It was filled with bags of colored pills and marijuana.  Then she said, “I’m giving everything I have to God, I’ve decided to trust him! Please pray for me.” 

Together, with our youth pastor, who was staying with us for the summer, we walked across the lawn to the church.  The youth pastor went to the piano as we knelt at the altar. Andre Crouch had just released a song titled “To God be the Glory.” 

While our youth pastor sang the song, our young friend, with tears of joy was praying it. “How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me? Things so undeserved yet you gave to prove your love for me. The voices of a million angels cannot express my gratitude. All that I am and ever hope to be I owe it all to you.”  The room was filled with God’s awesome presence, however; we still had no clue how He was going to put all this together. We only knew that He was! 

Are you ready for this? In a matter of weeks, the young woman enrolled back into school, the authorities made arrangements that allowed her and her sister to stay together and the pimp and drug lords miraculously disappeared! Our church reached out purchasing clothes and food for them and within a few weeks they became members of our children and youth group!  It was nothing short of a miracle!  

Here’s my conviction: The miracle began falling into place when she began walking across the Los Angeles basin at 2:00 a.m., then giving to God a grocery bag filled with all that she owned.  E. Stanley Jones succinctly placed this in perspective, saying, “If you don’t make up your mind, then your unmade mind will unmake you.”  How true!  However, like the young lady, in this story, there are some things in life we can’t change. So, we just lay them at the cross and move on!  

Philippians 3:13-14 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.) 

I pray this story has blessed you in some way and if you have been challenged by it, that’s wonderful.  However, before you begin your journey, I have two questions;  What’s in your bag and are you ready to give it to God? 

Today? Right now He is offering to turn your failures into fresh  hopes and awesome dreams and it will all come together when He opens the door and you give it all to Him. In exchange, He will give you life above anything you can possibly imagine! 

John 10:10 – The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows.

If God can miraculously transform a seventeen-year old who was dealt a life sentence without hope into a life of abundance, He can do the same for you!  

Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you declares the lord; Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future”