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It was November 11, 2022, and my family was driving home from the annual National Bible Bee Competition in Lexington, Kentucky. I had just experienced my first "all-nighter" before pulling all my luggage down to the main level of the hotel to begin loading the car at 4:30 am. I had been awake for over twenty hours straight, and now all I wanted was to sleep—I didn’t care where. With more than a 13-hour drive ahead of us, my sister and I were already grabbing the blankets to prepare for plenty of naps in the backseat. The rain slid down the windows of our SUV as the streetlights made unique reflections on the road, shining through the night. Several hours into our drive, we made a quick stop in Indiana to pick up some morning beverages (coffee? Not an option for me).
I woke up to the feeling of the vehicle coming to a stop and seeing rain-filled clouds still covering the sky overhead. Though I was completely unaware of my surroundings, I still chose to get out of the car and walk around a bit before we continued our journey home. As you can imagine, the last thing I wanted to do was carry on a conversation with strangers. So, I stood outside in the light mist, half asleep, waiting for my mom and sister to get their drinks from the coffee shop. I took this time to reflect on all God had done that past week, how He had been glorified, and all the fun memories we had made. I was leaning on a fence post, with nothing keeping me awake but the cool chill of the morning air.
A couple of moments later, I saw a young woman with a black hoodie come out of the coffee shop and stand by me. I stood upright (to not look as exhausted as I felt) and continued looking off into the distance (again, not wanting to engage in conversation). She's waiting for her drink, but maybe she's outside because she doesn't want to be around people either, I thought to myself. With that conclusion in mind, I happily remained silent. Then she broke the silence. "Do you know this song?" She asked me while gesturing at the speakers playing secular music from the coffee shop's roof eave. I stared at her.
"No," I responded. "I don't actually listen to the radio or most modern music."
"Oh. I don't either," she replied. "I don't like some of that stuff on the radio!"
We continued our small talk conversation, and I soon realized that the Lord might want me to share the gospel with her. Still exhausted and trying to formulate sentences that made sense, I quickly realized that the Lord would have to give me His strength. My words would not be sufficient. Our conversation continued.
"Are you from...around here?" I asked. "This is Indiana, right? I woke up not too long ago from sleeping in the car, and I don't know where we are. My family and I just made a quick stop on our way home," I replied, revealing how sleep-deprived I was.
"Yeah! Are you not from around here?" She replied.
Perfect, I thought to myself. This was my chance to tell this young lady about the purpose of our trip (which has often proven to be a great segue into gospel conversations). I began to explain to her that I was from out of state but was traveling from Kentucky, where I had attended the National Bible Bee Competition. After telling her about the ministry and its purpose, I was surprised to find that she was interested in what I was saying.
"So, do you believe in God?" I asked her bluntly.
"Oh yes, I believe in God," she replied, proceeding to tell me about the Bible verses she memorized as a kid and the church programs she attended. I continued to ask her questions that caused her to expound. She shared with hesitancy in her voice, "Well, I think I'm a good person... I do all the right things."
At that moment, verses rushed to the forefront of my mind that I didn't know were there. Ones I had studied and memorized in the past were suddenly readily available for me to use. It felt as if someone had just handed me a toolbox full of the tools I needed—and just when I needed them. Verses came to mind, references were pieced together, and gospel truths flowed like a river. I began telling her about Isaiah 64 and how all our works were filthy rags in God's sight. I told her about Christ's righteousness, His perfect sacrifice, the beauty of imputation, and the eternal life He gives to those who believe in Him. I was able to answer her questions about sin, the Fall, the current state of our world, the purpose of our life (to glorify God), and the imminent return of Christ. Verses from Genesis, Romans, and Philippians rushed to the forefront of my mind and poured out of my mouth. All the while, my Bible was sitting in our vehicle.
When our conversation ended, she was in tears, and I was in utter amazement at what God had done. This lady had a new understanding of Jesus Christ; she had previously seen Him as One to strive to live a good life for in her strength. She now saw Him as the One who took her sin upon Himself out of love to make her righteous (2 Cor. 5:21).
Some of the last words she said to me in this conversation were, "I want to be able to memorize all that Scripture like you have been talking about. I cannot believe you told me this today. This is just what I needed!"
As she wiped the tears from her face, I said, “None of this was me. Anything you just heard was all God. As I told you before, I was sleeping in the car before I got here and am extremely tired from pulling an all-nighter. God ordered our paths to cross at this moment, and He wanted you to hear all of these things this morning."
I prayed for her, and then we parted ways. I had just witnessed God's incredible strength in my incredible weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9). The fact that this young woman received anything that pointed to Christ from that conversation was evidence that the Lord was present and doing it all.
A couple of moments later, my mom and sister finally walked out of the coffee shop. As we were heading back to the vehicle, I asked my mom what had taken so long. She informed me that they had gotten their drink order wrong several times and had to remake the drinks. Because of these supposed "delays," the woman at the coffee shop was able to hear the gospel, and when our ten minutes of discussion were finished, so were the drinks. That morning in Indiana, I was reminded of a few truths that I want to share with you:
1. Whenever you share Christ, it is not you doing it, but Christ in you (Col. 1:27-29).
When someone commits their life to Christ, it's not because of you but because of Christ. This is one way that God receives the glory. Without Him opening the hearts of the unregenerate, none will come to Him (Acts 16:14). We are just the vessels by which He pours His truth into the lives of His people. The weaker we are—and the more incompetent and incapable we feel—the more Christ will shine through (2 Cor. 4:7).
2. You will not always have a Bible in your hand when you want to evangelize, but you will always have memorized Scripture hidden in your heart (Psa. 37:30-31).
A gospel-sharing opportunity never has to be a lost opportunity when God's Word is in your heart. Will you memorize God's Word to store tools in your toolbox for the day God gives you the chance to share the gospel with others (1 Pet. 3:15)?
Do you want to memorize more verses to equip you to share the gospel with others? Do you need help figuring out where to start? Check out this helpful resource of 84 key Bible verses on the truths of salvation: 14:6 – The Way.
By hiding these foundational truths in your heart, you’ll be able to deepen your faith, grow in your knowledge of Scripture, and strengthen your witness for Christ.