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Across the Pastor’s Desk by Nancy Overgaard

As Christians around the world prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, I quietly give thanks to be among them. Though I was raised in a Christian home, as a young adult, I knew I did not believe in the basics of the Christian faith ­— God as Creator, Jesus as the Son of God and Savior, or even in Christian teaching on the birth of Jesus. As many my age, I was determined to go my own way.

That would change as I traveled through California with friends. As we entered the Redwood Forest I was overcome by a sense of the enormity and eternality of God and of my accountability to Him. Beneath those massive thousand-year-old trees I could not remain agnostic.

Similarly, as we drove along the Coast Highway and I looked out over the Pacific Ocean, I was gripped by a sense of the vastness and power of the ocean and the fear that I could be swept away by a single ocean wave, there to meet God; I knew I was not ready to do so. A minor earthquake during my visit to Los Angeles shook me into the realization that I needed to get my life right with God before it was too late. Even so, that would not happen right away.

Later, I would learn that the Bible confirms that God speaks powerfully through his creation (Romans 1:19-20), in a language everyone can understand (Psalm 19:3), and all have opportunity to hear and respond to (Psalm 19:4). Through his creation, God reveals his invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — so we are without excuse if we ignore him (Romans 1:20).

God was also using his people to get my attention. There was my Great Aunt Alyda whose faith in God permeated her life and who wrote her prayers on a chalkboard and added the answers alongside when they came. There was a Catholic nun who overflowed with love and joy in her work with delinquent teenagers in Minneapolis; a nun from a Sister Community in Switzerland who exuded peace; Mennonites in Pennsylvania whose commitment to helping the poor won my respect. I was drawn to them and their faith even while I was trying to pull away from God.

God was also speaking through his written Word, helping me see the relevance of the Bible to life. When feeling anxious about traveling alone to southern Georgia, I opened the Bible given to me by my sister. When I did, my eyes fell on the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Not only had God known my thoughts, he had addressed my concerns.

God was also getting my attention through answers to prayer. Largely because of my aunt and her chalkboard, I would try praying myself, impertinently challenging God to prove his existence by answering my prayers. Sadly, I would explain away the answers when they came. Yet, they kept me wondering.

Behind the scenes, my parents were persistently praying for me.

Finally, on Dec. 19, 1977, everything came together during a time of worship at a Christian women’s meeting. As other women sang songs of gratitude to Jesus, I wondered silently, “God, why are they so grateful to Jesus?” Suddenly, I understood and believed that what I was taught as a child is true: Jesus is the Son of God who died for my sins so I could be reconciled to God.

The Bible leaves no doubt that God loves all people and wants everyone to believe and receive salvation through Jesus (John 3:16, I Timothy 2:4-6).

So, this Christmas, if you are uncertain what you believe about Jesus, take time to read through what the Bible says about Jesus and ask God for understanding. If you are praying for someone who is distant from God, take heart; God may be working in ways you cannot imagine. If you have already placed your faith in Jesus, as Christians around the world prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, rejoice to be among them!

Nancy Overgaard is a member of the Freeborn County Ministerial Association.