I’ve always been somewhat of a computer nerd. I like keeping up with the latest and the greatest in automation. If it makes life easier, I like to use it. But my sister, Robbie, is not so keen. She uses a computer all day long and has an updated smart phone. However, if anything goes wrong with any of her devices she comes running to me for help. She doesn’t want details about what went wrong. She just wants me to fix it and let her get on with whatever she was doing.
One day I decided we needed to update the internet and router in our home because we weren’t getting the speed we needed. So I called our internet provider and explained what I needed. The company informed me that I needed to purchase a new router and a more up to date modem box. As we talked, the person helping me asked if the internet account was in my name. As it happened, it was set up in Robbie’s name years ago. Usually I just say I’m Robbie to avoid any chance of putting Robbie on the phone with any sort of technical person. She just glazes over and, in the end, when you ask her questions about the conversation she just gives you a blank look. However, for some reason during this call I had already said my name. The person I was speaking with insisted on talking to the person whose name was on the account.
I put the person on hold and told Robbie she had to speak to them herself. I explained that we needed an updated router and modem box. She only needed to let the person on the phone know I had her permission to update the equipment.
As I handed the phone to Robbie she had this unusual look of confidence. She even winked at me as if to say, “don’t worry, I’ve got this.” This worried me. Now don’t get me wrong. Robbie has plenty of knowledge and confidence in various areas. It’s just that computers is not one of them.
As Robbie began to talk I found myself holding my breath.
“Hello, this is Robin Boyette,” Robbie began. “I’m calling because we need a box of Imodium. Then she turned and winked at me with a confident smile. My heart sank.
“Not Imodium!” I shouted. “We need a new modem box!”
Robbie’s face turned a very bright shade of red.
“Um, could you just put your sister back on the phone, please?” the woman on the phone asked.
Robbie reluctantly handed the phone back to me. “She wants to talk to you,” she said.
I took the phone and asked if she could please let me put her on hold for just a moment. Then I just lost it. I fell on the floor laughing so hard I didn’t think I would ever recover. “Imodium!” I kept repeating in between bouts of hysterical, uncontrollable laughter. I was incapable of talking on the phone, yet I finally found a way to control myself to finish the conversation. The woman on the other end kept it together and was very professional and polite, although I could sense a big smile on her face as she spoke.
When I finally got off the phone I thought how fortunate it is that we don’t always get what we ask for in life. I could just imagine a giant box of Imodium arriving at our front door or the cable company wondering why these two old ladies were calling them for a box of Imodium?
A lot of times we pray and ask God for things we believe we absolutely need or want, but later we are so happy he didn’t deliver exactly what we asked for or when we thought we needed it.
God knows us better than we know ourselves. Thank goodness he looks at our hearts and he sees our future. So he knows better than anyone what we need and what we don’t need.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ, Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
God has promised to meet all of our needs. So when we pray and repeatedly ask God for something that just doesn’t seem to come, we can take heart in knowing he would provide it if we really needed it. Perhaps it’s not the right time or you only think you need something. God sees the bigger picture and is able to supply all our needs. We just have to trust him to know what is best. Take comfort in that knowledge. Otherwise, you could end up with a whole case of Imodium.
(Excerpt from "Life is a Buffet But What is the Recipe? by Polly D. Boyette. All rights reserved. Copyright 2020 by Polly Boyette.)
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