The world knows I don't like to pump gas. In fact, I don't know how. I always go to my gas station that does it for me, or Justin will do it.
This time, I was alone and saw I was about to run out of gas. I had no choice but to pull into the nearest gas station.
I pulled in at gas station, and they didn't have full service. How hard can this be I told myself? I was reading directions. This guy in a Porsche pulled in. He stepped out and said, "You know how to pump the gas?" I thought he meant he wanted me to teach him. I went into panic mode, and I said, "Ahhhh, ya, not hard!" He started laughing and said, "Ahhhh, I don't think so. I will do it for you as soon as you change direction. You're faced the wrong way." Oy! So embarrassing.
The nice guy, in his Armani suit and Gucci shoes, pumped my gas for me. He asked my name. I told him, "Ahhh...Jennifer!" I never give my name. He said, "I don't believe you. Let me see your license."
I started laughing. "Ok, I will tell you my name. Teresa is my name, but that is all the information I will give you. So don't ask for anything else. Thanks for helping me, I really appreciated that. That was a really kind thing to do. Be Blessed."
He said, "My pleasure to be of help. As for only giving me your first name, OK, let me give you my card. You can reach out to me when you're ready. Everything is there. I hope to hear from you soon."
He shook my hand, and I got in my car and looked at the card. He is the president of a major company worldwide. You know how much help he could be for LDW? I thought to myself. In fact, I was thanking God for this divine appointment and for running out of gas, and for not knowing how to fill up the gas tank. I mean I was thanking God for everything. I was so excited with the endless possibilities of projects.
I began thinking of projects this man could be involved in and would actually succeed in. I was doing the happy dance because kids worldwide would be helped. Go, God! I called my assistant and had her set up a meeting with some of the staff. "Tell them to clear their schedule for the rest of the day, and meet me in the conference room. I'm about 15 minutes from the office. I have projects for us to work on this morning. I'm going to give this man projects I know will bring his company to the forefront, and LDW is going to lead the way."
As I was driving, thanking God for this. I felt this uneasiness. "Did you ask me about this?" I felt God say.
"Well, what do you mean, God? Think of all the kids who would be helped? God, this is a no brainer." I started to defend myself before God. "My intention is to help kids, God," I said.
I felt God say, "I already know your intention. I know the intentions of the heart. It's not your intentions that is the problem." I knew exactly what God was saying. I'm sure you do too.
I pulled into my office parking lot and walked into the conference room. Staff, who I had asked to clear their schedules and meet me there, were patiently waiting with excitement only to hear me say, "I'm sorry I wasted your time, but God told me to wait. He has a better way." And in front of them, I tore up the business card the man gave me and threw it in the barrel. "God will have to help me another way," I told them.
I was reminded of another man God had brought to LDW three months earlier. He had asked me to bring to him a project I thought would benefit his country. I was actually working on that project when this other man came my way. That project was about to be implemented, and in fact, they had been meeting all last week. This project was going to make a humongous impact worldwide, much more miraculous than any of the other project I could have ever imagined. You talk about impact? This is impact. The man who brought this about was a gazillion times better than this other guy.
The lessons from this story are easy. Not every appointment is a divine one. Not everything, even if it's a good cause, means that is what you should do. Discernment is extremely important because it will either help us or destroy us. Distractions in life steal precious time we can't get back. They bring us down paths that are dead ends. They bring us down paths that are a waste of time and energy. Distractions are deadly. They kill our time, energy, and resources, and sometimes our reputation, if we are not careful. Aligning yourself to the right people is extremely important.
The man's purpose in giving me his card wasn't about business. I never discussed business with him, nor did he know my profession. He gave me his card to get together. I very easily could have called him as the CEO of LDW. I'm sure that would have shocked him. But God said, "Do not get in touch with this man. Ignore him. Tear up the card so you won't be tempted. When you see this company remember it's not for you to do business with."
This company was a wonderful company and did great things. It's not about that. It was about God having a specific reason for saying, "No."
I'm more than fine with obeying God and doing what He tells me to do. All of us have choices too. Sometimes God says, "No!" When he does, we better listen because His ways are higher and better than ours. God reminded me He holds our times in His hands. One day is like a thousand and a thousand like one day to Him.
His purposes will get accomplished in our lives in His time and His way. We are to discern which road we are to follow in and never divert from it. When other signs come up on this journey of life we're on, don't get tempted to get off. Remember getting off our road causes delays and wasted time. Sometimes the decision we make ends up costing us everything.
Call on discernment with me today. Let wisdom and knowledge be your guide as you discern between what is of God and what is not of Him. Determine you will walk in discernment in everything you do.
Rev. Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro
Founder and President Thread of Hope