The Power Behind Banana Bread
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The following article has been excerpted from Looking for the One by David McIver.
“There is Banana Bread in the refrigerator.”
Ed and Sylvia have a cabin with a beautiful view and a kayak on the shore. More importantly, Sylvia stocks the refrigerator with the necessities of life. It had been several years between visits, and as I drove north, I was looking forward to catching some bass. I had set aside time to be with Jesus and begin writing this book.
After a quiet morning of worship and writing, it was time for a lunch break. I made a smoothie, and after all of that healthy food, it was time for dessert. After all, man does not live by smoothie alone. As I watched the butter melting into the bread, I began to watch the carpenter who was working at Ed and Sylvia’s.
When I handle power tools, it’s not a pretty picture. I spend most of the time figuring out a plan of attack or fumbling with the equipment. This guy knew what he was doing. There were no wasted movements and no hesitation. I strolled outside to compliment the craftsman and ask about his pickup truck. Nothing profound, just some guy talk amid the odor of sweat and sawdust.
When I came back inside, the Holy Spirit gently spoke. “Bring Jason a slice of banana bread.” I’ve lost count of the times when I receive an impression, and my first response is to analyze the impression. Since I was spending a day with Jesus, there was no analysis. Just simple obedience.
Now it was time for a quick warm-up in the microwave. I went for a double portion slice and then thought of Sherrie’s admonition. “Everything’s better with butter.”
When I walked outside, Jason was sitting in his truck eating his lunch. We talked for a few minutes about his carpentry business, but there was no prompting to talk about anything spiritual. He shared that Ed and Sylvia had told him I was working on a book, so he was trying to keep the noise levels down.
By mid-afternoon, it was time to stop writing and start paddling. I floated down the shoreline casting a spinner-bait with no depth finder and no idea where to fish. When I arrived at a small bay, the bass were waiting for me. Then I hooked a nice northern pike, which almost capsized the kayak. As I paddled back to the cabin, I could see someone standing near the shoreline. The odd thing was that this person was standing like a statue and looking in my direction.
It was Jason.
When I arrived on shore, Jason asked for a moment. When we met at lunchtime, Jason shared he had recognized my voice from listening to the radio station for which I work. “I didn’t say anything about knowing that you are a pastor, but I began to think about my childhood when you went inside. I thought about what it was like when my dad, a pastor, left my mom. I remembered all of the talk in our small town about my family. As I sat in the truck, all of the pain started to come back. I remembered walking away from the Church and God. I remembered all of the family members who walked away from God.
“About that time, I looked up, and you were offering me a piece of Sylvia’s banana bread.” There was a long pause as we listened to the waves lapping against the shore. Jason cleared his throat, and then his voice was firm.
“When I took the bread, I felt the love of Jesus…
“As I felt his love, I felt drawn to him again.”
I thanked Jason for sharing something so personal, and I had an impression at that moment. “Jason, as you are sharing, I am getting a picture of a wall surrounding you. I feel like you’ve been told you have to break through the wall. That you need to take it apart brick by brick. But I think Jesus is holding out his hand and offering to lift you over the wall.”
Then we prayed to the God who has been lifting us for generations. “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along” (Psalm 40:2).
When I finished praying, Jason shared that a friend had been telling him repeatedly that there was a wall he needed to break through. But Jason said, “I just haven’t known where to start, and I haven’t had the energy to figure it out.” I could see the relief on Jason’s face as he thought about Jesus lifting him over what he could not tear down.
A few days later, I received a text from Jason that he has graciously given his blessing to share with you:
David, thanks for the kind message and prayer. This morning I wrote down the events that day at the cabin, how God revealed something I didn’t even know was there, and how he used a simple act of kindness by a man who was trying to find some time to write a book.
Banana bread of all things! God is just so creative and kind. I’m in tears just thinking about it. He’s just so good! Also, I love how God saw fit to honor Sylvia’s generosity in providing bread for her guests by using it for his secret and beautiful purposes. Thank you for your kindness. You have no idea how large ‘the wall’ has loomed in my life. I have been feeling new courage as a result of recent events. Bless you!
Jason is right. Jesus works in secret and beautiful ways.
Jesus has been watching Jason for decades, interceding for him. Now Jesus whispers to Ed and Sylvia to hire Jason. When I ask if I can use their cabin to write a book, Sylvia begins to bake bread. As Jason sits in his pickup truck, remembering all of the pain and betrayal, he breathes in the aroma of bread. He breathes in the love of Jesus. The name of the lake where Jesus touches his heart? Battle Lake.
The next day I called Sylvia. “I gave some of your bread to Jason, and and he felt the love of Jesus.” I loved the laughter in her voice as she said, “Praise the Lord!”
All of this so Jason can taste and see again that the Lord is good.
Stories of Seeing the Lost, Lonely, and Broken Through the Eyes of Jesus
“I would love to share my faith, but I don’t know what to say. My attempts feel awkward and forced. Sometimes, I push people away. I would never admit this, but I’ve started to avoid conversations about Jesus.”
Looking For The One is short stories about people experiencing Jesus in grocery stores, hospitals, and dugouts. Each story models walking with Jesus as He finds the lost through you.
As you witness the power of the gospel in your everyday life, you discover that the first life to be changed is yours.
Because as you look for the one, you become like the One.You become more like Jesus.
