The Dentist - An Unexpected Vessel

I almost missed an answer to prayer simply because I wasn’t looking for it.

Prayer is powerful and effective*, I believe. But sometimes, we have to have the eyes to recognize it. I nearly missed an answer to prayer today because God’s response came through a totally unexpected vessel. I wasn’t looking for God to clear up any of my confusion while at the dentist’s office. In fact, I almost disregarded Dr. Bell’s advice altogether, thinking it was just a piece of advice he gives to all of his patients. And, I suppose, I could still choose to take it that way. But instead, I’m choosing to believe God on this one and to see Dr. Bell’s words as just one of God’s answers to me.

…

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
That question still haunts me. The answer, for as long as I can remember, has always been: I don’t know. I have so many different passions and am interested in so many different things, I just can’t figure out which one(s) I should pursue as a career or for my future. I finally picked a major and an emphasis over a year ago, but I wonder to this day whether or not I made the right decision and where that decision will lead me.

I realize that God often leaves things (like our futures!) obscure in order for us to fully trust Him; if He made our future entirely clear, what would we ever need to trust Him for? Just last night, I prayed that God would give me wisdom in regards to what I should do with my life. I asked that He would make clear to me what needs to be made clear about my future, but that He would also leave unclear to me what ought to be unclear so that I might trust Him where I should, while also making the wisest decisions I can.

While I was at the dentist’s office today, Dr. Bell started up a conversation with me about how school was going and how fast time flies. Within 2 minutes of the conversation, Dr. Bell looked me in the eye and told me that I was made to work with people. He said that if paperwork or anything of that sort comes my way, I should push it aside because I should be working with people.

At first, I was shocked. What was he talking about? How did he even get that impression, especially since he only sees me for 10 minutes at a time twice a year? Does he just say that to everyone?

I was tempted to just shrug off his advice, but then I remembered my prayer… that God would make things clear to me. “Well, but this is the dentist’s office,” I thought. “I came here to get my teeth cleaned, not to think about my future.” And yet, there I was, sitting in the dentist’s office (of all places and people to be with) being told something about my giftings and how they related to my future when I hadn’t even asked about them or brought up the subject of my confusion. Shortly after that, Dr. Bell started to tell us how important it is for people/families to be well educated in the Christian ideas our country is founded on and left us with the admonition to consistently read God’s Word and to seek His will in everything.

How many dentists, or people for that matter, would dare to say that?

Only those who are in God’s Word and who choose to be available to be used by Him... even if that means letting God speak through you to confused college students.

As small as it was, I don’t exactly know what to do with Dr. Bell’s advice to me. But what I do know is that God is answering prayers all the time; we just forget to look for them or fail to recognize things as answers to prayer instead of just coincidence. I ask, and God answers - sometimes in totally unexpected ways through unexpected people and circumstances. It’s just one more reminder to me that we should always be on our toes and keep our eyes wide open to see God at work.

* "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 4:16b