Chapter 20
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
—James 1:8
“What happened, Ethan? Tell me what’s going on so I’ll know what I need to be praying for,” I said.
He took a few breaths. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he said.
“It’s okay. Now tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t talk but a minute. But I had to call you. I know you’ve been praying for us. And I know you can get a prayer through. My daughter. . . Jacquetta is missing.”
“What? When? How?”
“Long story short: her mother was supposed to pick her up from school.”
“Your children are still in school?”
“Yes, this was their last day. They had to make up all of those snow days we had this year, so the school had to add more days at the end of the school year. Most of the children didn’t even bother going to school today, but Jacquetta wanted to go. That girl loves school. Normally, she would ride the bus home, but today she wanted to stay and help her teacher take things down and put things away, something like that. Her mother told her she would pick her up. I told Denise I would get her since I normally get off at two, but Denise insisted she would do it. Said she was taking off work early anyway today. I guess I should have asked her why she was taking off, but you know what? None of that matters now. What matters is that she told my baby girl that she would be at the school to pick her up at two, and she wasn’t.”
“What do you mean ‘she wasn’t’?”
“I mean she forgot! Denise forgot to go by the school and pick Jacquetta up.” I instantly heard the change of tone in his voice. “As usual, she had more important things to do. So she forgot that she’d told our daughter she’d pick her up. She’d told Jacquetta to be outside waiting for her no later than two.”
“Wait a minute,” I said. “Why would a teacher let her be out there by herself? I don’t get that part. Even if—”
“The teacher told the police that Jacquetta said her mother was waiting outside. She thought Denise was out there already. Now Jacquetta’s missing, and no one knows where she is. Phoenix Arissa believes Jacquetta likely tried to walk home. The police have searched the road from the school to our house. There’s no sign of her. Nothing. Somebody probably saw her and snatched her up—”
“Stop that!” I said. “Do you hear me? I want you to stop that right now! You of all people know that death and life is in the power of the tongue. Don’t you dare say another negative word on this matter, do you hear me?”
“You’re right, you’re right.” He made a growling sound. “But I’m almost out of my mind at this point. Do you have any idea the thoughts that are running through my mind right now? Do you?”
“I have a pretty good idea. I want you to listen to me. I’m going to be praying like you won’t believe. But you have got to set your thoughts on God and what He is doing right now and don’t let your mind wander over there where the devil would like for you to go.”
“You’re right. You’re right. Well, I’m going to get off this phone. But I just had to call you. I needed you to know what was going on. And I needed you to be praying with us. But I’m going to tell you: if some sicko has hurt or done anything to my little girl—”
“Ethan, don’t go there,” I said calmly, putting a stop to even allowing him to finish speaking that thought. “I just told you: you can’t think in that direction. You need to use every ounce of your energy on God, His Word, and in Him showing His power through this situation. I believe that God has angels protecting her right now. God will deliver your daughter back to you and your family safe and sound. I believe that. But you must stay focused on God’s Word right now. You must be diligent in His Word. You know what the Bible says about a double-minded man.”
“I know. That’s James 1:8, ‘A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ I know the scriptures. But when it comes to something like this, there’s a difference in what you know in your head and what’s going on in your heart. I’m not going to lie to you: I’m scared right now.”
“Ethan, God has not given you—”
“ ‘The spirit of fear,’ ” he said, finishing the scripture from Second Timothy 1:7. “I know, I know. I’m just being real with you now. That’s why I called you. I knew you would keep my head on straight. I’m okay. Really, I’m okay. Thanks for reminding me that I have got to walk the talk. This is merely a test in a testimony. In the end, God will make a message out of this mess.” He sighed. I could tell he was truly pressing now. “Well, I’m hanging up now.”
“Okay. And you know I’m praying. I know God is going to bring your baby back home safely and unharmed to you. I know that in my heart, and I’m confessing it with my mouth. I thank God that it’s done right now, in the name of Jesus! I thank You, God, that it’s done! I thank You, God, for peace right now in this situation, Thank You for a peace that surpasses all understanding. I thank You for being a keeper of your Word. I thank You, God, for the promises of Psalm 91:3 and 4. ‘Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust. . . .’ ”
“Thank You, Lord!” Ethan said. “Thank You for Your promise of Psalm 91:7. I pray that scripture over Jacquetta right now, in Jesus’ name! ‘A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.’ I thank You, Lord. Protect my child, right now. Protect Your child, right now. Bring our daughter safely home to us. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord.”
“These blessings we ask and we thank You for in advance, in Jesus’ precious name, amen,” I said, finishing the prayer.
“Thank you,” Ethan said. “Thank you so very, very much.” I could hear the tears in his voice as his voice cracked.
“If you can, will you keep me posted? And know that I’ll be waiting to hear the glorious praise report of her speedy and safe return.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Yeah.”
“Let me give you my home number,” I said. “Just in case you need to call me there.”
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Yeah. I want to know the minute your daughter comes home.”
“Yeah,” he said, and I heard the smile and a slight uplift in his voice. “I’m sure it will be soon, too.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” I said. “Faith will move mountains. You just have to believe, then act like it’s already so.”
I gave him my home phone number and hung up. Going back into my office, I closed the door and prayed.