Perseverance Pays
Off
By Ruby Bryan
Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
There once was a little girl who had three sisters and a brother. The family traveled extensively with the circus, so the little girl and her family never had an opportunity to go to church to learn about Jesus. Unable to perform during the harsh winter months, many circus families would retreat to Florida for a few months off.
One day a very nice lady came to visit the little girl and her family to invite them to church. The parents, who had never been raised in a Christian home, didn't see a need in going to church and refused her offers. However, Mrs. Busbee always came to the little girls home on Saturday mornings to invite the family to church. When Sunday morning arrived, the church bus would come to their home. Mrs. Busbee's smiling face always beaming with Christ's love, would peer from the door of the bus, anxiously awaiting the children's arrival, but the children were not permitted to come. Mrs. Busbee never gave up. Week after week, she was persistent in visiting the family. I'm not quite sure if the father's heart softened or if he just grew weary of Mrs. Busbee's faithful visits, but the father agreed to let the children go. The children's joy was surpassed only by the delight of the Holy Spirit sparkling in Mrs. Busbee's eyes. Eagerly the children awaited the church bus' arrival each Sunday, hungry to learn more about Jesus.
As a result of Mrs. Busbee's perseverance, three of the children and their mother prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. And perhaps it was that seed that Mrs. Busbee sowed that later led the father and other two children to receive Christ.
What a joy to hear of such a godly woman who never allowed "NO" to keep her from doing the will of God. My prayer is that through hearing this story, you will remember that we should never give up on God. No matter how many times Satan slams the door shut, we should never forget that Christ is there pleading with us to knock again. This story is dear to me because I am that little girl, who because of one woman's obedience to God, became a child of His. And although I have a lot of growing to do in Christ, I'll always remember that with God's direction and my obedience all things are possible.
For additional study: Luke 11:5-10