He Said, She Says: The Power of Praying God's Wordনমুনা

Misunderstandings: The Worst and Best Car Rides Ever

It was one of the most gut-wrenching, soul-searching car rides of my life because of one little conversation. We’d just pulled away from Sunday church as my 5-year-old son Cole shouted from the backseat, “I don’t want to become a Christian!”

As much as I wanted to go old-school on him, jerk the car to the side of the road, and give him a whipping for even thinking such a thing, I composed myself.

“Why?” was all I could think of.

His reply? “I don’t want to die on a cross! Ever!”

“Son,” I breathed a sigh of relief, “you don’t have to die on a cross! Jesus did that in our place. In fact, He died so that we could live with Him forever and live in His blessings and promises!”

I’d love to tell you that my words worked, but they didn’t. Maybe his little brain couldn’t comprehend it or perhaps another kid in class had told him otherwise, but he brought this same conversation up several times over the next year until, finally, the second gut-wrenching car ride happened.

“Mom,” his little voice hesitantly squeaked from the backseat many Sundays later, “I’m ready to die on a cross.”

“Cole,” I calmly said, “God loves you. He loves you so much that He doesn’t want you to die on a cross. In fact all you need to do to be saved and become a Christian is to say that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead. Are you ready to do that?”

“Really, mom? YES!”

So the two of us prayed: Me in the front seat, Cole in the back, repeating a sweet prayer that so many have prayed for thousands of years.

Heavenly Father, I believe Jesus is Lord. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I believe I am saved and will now live for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And, this time, he believed. It clicked. Something happened where the misunderstanding stopped.

Have you ever misunderstood? Has there ever been a time when you thought you had to earn God’s love or work hard to deserve His protection and promises? Maybe you’ve felt destined to sickness and fear and loneliness, not even realizing God has promises in His word about these exact issues just for His children. Are you His child? If not, consider repeating the same prayer written above that Cole and I prayed many years ago.

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From He Said, She Says, by Allyson McElroy of On3Ministries.com