The Whisper
There's a moment that happens in the quiet spaces of our day… a whisper, a nudge, an impression that says, "Say something. Do something. Reach out."
Most of the time, we ignore it. We rationalize it away. We think, “They probably don't need to hear from me. I don't know them well enough. What if it's awkward?” But what happens when we actually listen?
Pictured in Photo: Steve, a die-hard entrepreneur, started 20 businesses that failed.
The Classroom Encounter
A teacher invited a guest speaker to come speak to his classroom of students. As the speaker stood before the students, he began sharing something raw and real: his business failures. He talked about his actual stumbles, the falls, the moments when success seemed impossible. He told them about getting back up and thinking like a champion, even when the scoreboard said otherwise.
As the teacher sat in that room, listening, he began to hear a gentle prompting. The whisper said, “This man needs to hear something. He needs encouragement.”
It would have been easy to let the moment pass. After all, he didn't know the speaker very well. What if the gesture felt out of place? What if it was misunderstood?
But, instead of silencing that inner voice, he chose to trust it.
A Verse and a Thank You
Later, that day he reached out with a simple message: a Bible verse (Proverbs 24:16) and a thank you.
The verse reads, "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."
He thanked the speaker for "getting back up," for being willing to share his failures with the students, and for modeling resilience and courage.
That was it. No grand sermon. No elaborate speech. Just a moment of intentional encouragement from one person to another.
What happened next is the beautiful part of the story.
The speaker sent back a note. He didn't just politely acknowledge the message… he actually told the teacher he was going to use that verse. Those words of encouragement, offered in faith, landed exactly where they were meant to land.
The teacher reflected later: "I was blessed by putting myself out there and sharing some scripture. I don't know him well but sensed he could use a word of encouragement."
Do you see what happened here?
Both people were impacted.
The speaker received strength and inspiration at a moment he needed it. And the teacher? He was blessed by the simple act of obedience, by LISTENING to that quiet prompting and ACTING on it.
The Invitation for All of Us
This story isn't just about a teacher and a speaker. It's about you.
It's about the promptings YOU have felt — the ones you've dismissed, delayed, or doubted. It's about the potential that sits quietly inside you, waiting for permission to make a difference.
You don't need to have all the answers. You don't need perfect timing or flawless execution.
You just need to listen and act.
What if you trusted that nudge?
What if you sent that text?
What if you shared that verse?
What if you spoke that word of encouragement?
What if you reached out to that person who's been on your heart?
The truth is, God places these promptings within us for a reason. They're not random. They're not coincidence. They're divine appointments.
And when we step into them, even imperfectly and nervously, we become part of something so much bigger than ourselves.
Your Move
Today, right now, there's likely someone on your heart. A name. A face. A situation.
You've felt that whisper, now… Reach out. Encourage them. Pray for them. Send that message.
What if today is the day you stop second-guessing and start acting?
What if your one small act of obedience becomes the very thing that helps someone else get back up?
The potential is already inside you.
All you have to do is trust it, and take the step.
The Intentional Faith Project exists to inspire stories just like this one. When we act on the promptings God places within us, we create ripples of hope, encouragement, and transformation. Want to share your story? We'd love to hear how you've been intentional in your faith—and how it's making a difference.
