John

John

Blog – 11-1-17

My husband is an amazing man. I know I’m a little biased because I’m married to him, but let me tell you a story that happened yesterday, and then you can tell me if you don’t agree that he’s pretty special!

John owns a retail furniture store here in Sioux City, and a longtime customer came in yesterday. This man, who I will call Bob, lost his wife a few years ago in a tragic accident, and he hasn’t been the same since. Bob is a tough guy who doesn’t show much emotion, John said. His wife was always the soft, sweet side of the relationship, and Bob has only gotten a tougher exterior since her passing.

Bob was looking for a new chair, and John could tell he wasn’t in a very good mood. They talked a little bit, mostly small talk, and then John asked how he was doing since his wife had passed. Bob, who is retired, shared how hard it was to be alone and how he sits in his house most days and doesn’t want to go anywhere. He looks around his house, and everything reminds him of his wife. His heart is completely broken because he lost his best friend.

Then John, being the John that I know and love, took the conversation to the next level and started talking about faith. He asked Bob, “When’s the last time you talked to the Big Guy?” (John always leads off with humor!) He asked Bob if he was going to church and leaning on his faith. Bob put up a wall instantly and didn’t want to talk about it, but John pushed through his resistance and kept going. John has known Bob for over 20 years, so he knew he could push him a little because the truth is, Bob isn’t really as tough as he tries to pretend he is. John shared with Bob that the only way to heal from something so devastating like this is to go to Jesus. He shared that without Christ you can never find peace.

John then took Bob’s hand and prayed with him right there in the store. When he got done, Bob said, “You talk to Jesus like you’re talking to a friend. That’s really weird.” John said, “That’s how I always pray because JC and I are on a first-name basis!”

Bob kept shaking his head and taking in all John had shared, and then the walls Bob had built around himself suddenly came crashing down as he started bawling and bawling. The floodgates were opened, and he couldn’t hold the pain in any longer. This man who had spent his life being tough and strong was utterly broken.

All in all, John spent over an hour with him yesterday, and Bob had lots to think about when he got home. As far as John, he came home exhausted from pouring out to him but hopeful that somehow something he said would touch Bob’s heart and bring him to the cross.

I don’t know if Bob will surrender his heart and his life to Jesus and receive the healing we can only receive through faith in Jesus Christ, but I do know that John planted a seed yesterday, one that I know could change Bob’s life forever. I will be praying for him because honestly, I don’t know how people get through hard times without faith. I simply couldn’t do it.

I speak and sing in front of people all the time and share my heart, my faith, my struggles, and my joys; but it’s another thing to share one-on-one like my husband did. That’s opening yourself up to a whole different level of judgment and rejection because you never know how people will react. I have to say, I’m incredibly proud of John and his heart for sharing his faith whenever he feels the Spirit prompting him. Stories like this one with Bob have been repeated many, many times over the years, and John continues to inspire me with his bold faith.

John isn’t perfect, none of us are, but he is solid in his faith and fearless when it comes to sharing his beliefs. That’s honestly what I love most about him.

The next time you are with someone you know is hurting and you feel that nudge from the Holy Spirit to take the conversation to the next level, I hope John’s courage and his witness will inspire you to follow the Spirit’s lead and go for it. Be brave. Be bold. You could change a life forever!

Hugs and love,

Jill