--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like last week, she was wearing all…" description: "\"“Like last week, she was wearing all black. And like last week, he couldn’t keep from noticing the way the dark color highlighted her pale skin and gra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/jody-hedlund-19424_answered-prayer_like-last-week-she-was-wearing-all-black_1391549.jpg" --- # Like last week, she was wearing all black. And like last… ![“Like last week, she was wearing all black. And like last week, he couldn’t keep from noticing the way the dark color highlighted her pale skin and grayish-blue eyes. She was petite and put together in every detail from her severe coif to her immaculate garments. Though she wasn’t remarkable in her…” quote by Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/jody-hedlund-19424_answered-prayer_like-last-week-she-was-wearing-all-black_1391549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/jody-hedlund-19424_answered-prayer_like-last-week-she-was-wearing-all-black_1391549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/jody-hedlund-19424_answered-prayer_like-last-week-she-was-wearing-all-black_1391549.jpg) > ““Like last week, she was wearing all black. And like last week, he couldn’t keep from noticing the way the dark color highlighted her pale skin and grayish-blue eyes. She was petite and put together in every detail from her severe coif to her immaculate garments. Though she wasn’t remarkable in her appearance, there was something in her delicate porcelain face that he liked. Perhaps her determination? Or compassion? Or honesty? Truthfully, he hadn’t noticed her at all before last Sunday, but now he was chagrined to admit he’d thought about her all week. He’d told himself that his thoughts had only to do with the way God had spoken through her to answer his prayer. He’d been battling such doubts recently regarding his ministry among the immigrants, and when she’d spoken to him after the service, it was almost as if she’d been delivering a message directly from God. He loved when God worked that way. Regardless, his mind had wandered too many times from the answered prayer to the bearer of the answer. He hadn’t met a woman in years who had arrested him quite the way Miss Pendleton had. And he was quite taken aback by his strange reaction. After Bettina had passed away ten years ago, he’d had little desire to think about courting other women. At first he’d been too filled with grief and had focused all his energy on raising Thomas. When Thomas had left home to pursue his studies at Union Theological Seminary, Guy had taken the challenge given by the New York Methodist Episcopal Conference. He’d accepted their position as an itinerant pastor to start a mission and chapel among the lions’ den. He’d left his comfortable pastoral position and embraced God’s calling to raise the outcast and homeless, to be among those who had no friend or helper, and do something for them of what Christ had done for him. He’d focused all his time and attention on reaching the lost. Nothing and no one had shaken that attention. Until last week.”” [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A pastor struggles with unexpected attraction, questioning his devotion and grief while confronting personal doubts about faith and purpose. **In simple terms:** A man wrestles with new feelings that challenge his religious focus. Key Takeaway Recognize and reconcile personal emotions with spiritual duties. Themes faith grief attraction duty self‑reflection Mood conflicted hopeful reflective Type narrative contemplative emotional When to use this quote - church leadership - personal relationships - grief processing - spiritual discernment Key Concepts spiritual conflict human desire loss calling Questions to Reflect On - How do personal attractions affect spiritual commitments? - Can grief be transformed into renewed purpose? A Different Perspective Balancing personal desire with ministerial responsibilities can be painful and complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answered prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answered-prayer/) ## Related quotes > [Only God is to be loved for His own sake. 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So for me, my household - I just think that we would all be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/jesus-came-down-in-flesh-and-solved-both-of-them-so-for-me-my/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-the-apostle/in-this-is-love-not-that-we-loved-god-but-that-he-loved-us-and-sent/) [John the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-the-apostle/) > [We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-are-all-created-by-the-almighty-and-like-him-i-love-all-of/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [You were loved because God loves, period. God loved you, and everyone, not because you believed in certain things, but because you were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/you-were-loved-because-god-loves-period-god-loved-you-and-everyone/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-would-all-be-better-off-if-we-loved-god-and-loved-each-other/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [Strange but true: those who have loved God most have loved men least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/strange-but-true-those-who-have-loved-god-most-have-loved-men-least/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [My mom taught me she loved me and God loved me and nothing else mattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/my-mom-taught-me-she-loved-me-and-god-loved-me-and-nothing-else/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [“We will never stand in awe of being loved by God until we reckon with the seriousness of our sin and the justice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-will-never-stand-in-awe-of-being-loved-by-god-until-we-reckon-with/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the atoning sacrifice for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-the-apostle/this-is-love-not-that-we-loved-god-but-that-he-loved-us-and-sent-his-2/) [John the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-the-apostle/) > [“We feel Divine Love entering us firstly through gentle, soft, humbling, kind and loving feelings, independent of any other person. This can be experienced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-aon-prakasha/we-feel-divine-love-entering-us-firstly-through-gentle-soft-humbling/) [Padma Aon Prakasha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-aon-prakasha/) > [“My body was still too numb to feel the crushing waves pound me, and I truly felt a freedom and peace, as if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/my-body-was-still-too-numb-to-feel-the-crushing-waves-pound-me-and-i/) [Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/) > [The common sense has kind of kept me completely out of trouble. This is a life where it could have went a different way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-dennis/the-common-sense-has-kind-of-kept-me-completely-out-of-trouble-this/) [Gabrielle Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-dennis/) ## More by Jody Hedlund > [“However, as he began his prayer, she couldn’t think about anything but the warm pressure of his hands against hers. His fingers were strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/however-as-he-began-his-prayer-she-couldn-t-think-about-anything-but/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Maybe that's why God had placed the angel at the Garden of Eden—to keep people away from the Tree of Life? Not to prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/maybe-that-s-why-god-had-placed-the-angel-at-the-garden-of-eden-to/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Her pretty mouth curled into the beginning of a smile. He’d learned that she doled out smiles sparingly, and so he gave himself permission…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/her-pretty-mouth-curled-into-the-beginning-of-a-smile-he-d-learned/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“I’ve been trying to think of a solution,” Reinhold said, “and I could come up with only one idea.” “What?” “Marry me.” A burst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/i-ve-been-trying-to-think-of-a-solution-reinhold-said-and-i-could/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Maybe we won't have the beauty of a perfect summer. But neither do we have to endure the callousness of an uncaring winter. Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/maybe-we-won-t-have-the-beauty-of-a-perfect-summer-but-neither-do-we/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Christine,” he mumbled between their lips, “we must be married soon.” She couldn’t find the words to answer him. She’d never imagined anyone would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/christine-he-mumbled-between-their-lips-we-must-be-married-soon-she/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“They would face many more hardships in the days to come. They wouldn’t be perfect and neither would their marriage. But they could still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/they-would-face-many-more-hardships-in-the-days-to-come-they-wouldn-t/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“When things don't turn out the way we want, about the only thing we can do is know God is still there piecing together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/when-things-don-t-turn-out-the-way-we-want-about-the-only-thing-we/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Just because the whole world changes its opinion about something doesn't mean God changes his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/just-because-the-whole-world-changes-its-opinion-about-something/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Reverend Bedell?” she said. He halted and glanced at her. She expected irritation or at least weariness to cross his features and was completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/reverend-bedell-she-said-he-halted-and-glanced-at-her-she-expected/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Her words made her pause. She couldn't have anything that was truly worthwhile without fighting for it-her farm, her family, and perhaps even love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/her-words-made-her-pause-she-couldn-t-have-anything-that-was-truly/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Christine,” he started, “is it possible that God can do more yet between us?” Was that a note of hope in his voice? Did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/christine-he-started-is-it-possible-that-god-can-do-more-yet-between/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“You’re amazing.” He didn’t realize he’d spoken the words aloud and that he was staring at her again, until she averted her eyes, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/you-re-amazing-he-didn-t-realize-he-d-spoken-the-words-aloud-and-that/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Maybe his offer to marry her had taken them both by surprise, but now that he’d brought it up, he couldn’t imagine his life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/maybe-his-offer-to-marry-her-had-taken-them-both-by-surprise-but-now/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“Maybe we both let our fears push each other away. But we don't have to do that anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/maybe-we-both-let-our-fears-push-each-other-away-but-we-don-t-have-to/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) [Explore all 32 Jody Hedlund quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) ## More Answered prayer quotes > [“Thank you Heavenly Father. You heard my petition. You have answered my plea. May your name be glorified and be praised.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/thank-you-heavenly-father-you-heard-my-petition-you-have-answered-my/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“We serve a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God, a wonder-working God!” he loved to say. “And answered prayer is one of the ways we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-c-rosenberg/we-serve-a-prayer-hearing-and-a-prayer-answering-god-a-wonder-working/) [Joel C. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-c-rosenberg/) > [The history of missions is the history of answered prayer. It is the key to the whole mission problem. All human means are secondary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-marinus-zwemer/the-history-of-missions-is-the-history-of-answered-prayer-it-is-the/) [Samuel Marinus Zwemer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-marinus-zwemer/) > [The story of every great Christian achievement is the history of answered prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-story-of-every-great-christian-achievement-is-the-history-of/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [“Elijah wanted the crisis to be dealt with, and the boy was raised from the dead. Answered prayer is better—and more important—than answered questions:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-kendall/elijah-wanted-the-crisis-to-be-dealt-with-and-the-boy-was-raised-from/) [R. T. Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-kendall/) > [You are my answered prayer, my fulfilled wish, my realized dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/you-are-my-answered-prayer-my-fulfilled-wish-my-realized-dream/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“It was as if God had answered a prayer she'd never been bold enough to pray.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-tagg/it-was-as-if-god-had-answered-a-prayer-she-d-never-been-bold-enough/) [Melissa Tagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-tagg/) > [The history of missions is the history of answered prayer. From Pentecost to the Haystack meeting in New England and from the days when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-marinus-zwemer/the-history-of-missions-is-the-history-of-answered-prayer-from/) [Samuel Marinus Zwemer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-marinus-zwemer/) > [“What I have learned from the year past is something about miracles--miracles of healing and answered prayer and unexpected happy endings. Each came quietly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-baldwin/what-i-have-learned-from-the-year-past-is-something-about-miracles/) [Faith Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-baldwin/) > [I have questioned God sometimes whether prayers have gone unanswered. But answered prayer is still harder to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/i-have-questioned-god-sometimes-whether-prayers-have-gone-unanswered/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) > [A security guard was found sleeping at work. He was fired on the spot. He cried a lot. Then a young man saw him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/a-security-guard-was-found-sleeping-at-work-he-was-fired-on-the-spot/) [Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/) > [“Whoever shall call on God, shall be saved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whoever-shall-call-on-god-shall-be-saved/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [God has done more than I could ask or even imagine on more occasions than I could ever recount. His ways are higher than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/god-has-done-more-than-i-could-ask-or-even-imagine-on-more-occasions/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [“Know, child, that the One God—He is so vast that He cannot be moved, else the Universe falls. Nor can He answer, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/know-child-that-the-one-god-he-is-so-vast-that-he-cannot-be-moved/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [“The streaming wounds of Jesus are the sure guarantees for answered prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-streaming-wounds-of-jesus-are-the-sure-guarantees-for-answered/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 48 Answered prayer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answered-prayer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Like last week, she was wearing all black. And like last week, he couldn’t keep from noticing the way the dark color highlighted her pale skin and grayish-blue eyes. She was petite and put together in every detail from her severe coif to her immaculate garments. Though she wasn’t remarkable in her appearance, there was something in her delicate porcelain face that he liked. Perhaps her determination? Or compassion? Or honesty? Truthfully, he hadn’t noticed her at all before last Sunday, but now he was chagrined to admit he’d thought about her all week. He’d told himself that his thoughts had only to do with the way God had spoken through her to answer his prayer. He’d been battling such doubts recently regarding his ministry among the immigrants, and when she’d spoken to him after the service, it was almost as if she’d been delivering a message directly from God. He loved when God worked that way. Regardless, his mind had wandered too many times from the answered prayer to the bearer of the answer. He hadn’t met a woman in years who had arrested him quite the way Miss Pendleton had. And he was quite taken aback by his strange reaction. After Bettina had passed away ten years ago, he’d had little desire to think about courting other women. At first he’d been too filled with grief and had focused all his energy on raising Thomas. When Thomas had left home to pursue his studies at Union Theological Seminary, Guy had taken the challenge given by the New York Methodist Episcopal Conference. He’d accepted their position as an itinerant pastor to start a mission and chapel among the lions’ den. He’d left his comfortable pastoral position and embraced God’s calling to raise the outcast and homeless, to be among those who had no friend or helper, and do something for them of what Christ had done for him. He’d focused all his time and attention on reaching the lost. Nothing and no one had shaken that attention. 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