God's Calling...And So Is Anna

I looked at my phone and—oh yes—I rolled my eyes.

There, I said it.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit this but transparency is healing, right?

The truth is, I didn’t just roll my eyes. I hit the red button and sent the call straight to voicemail.

“I’m busy,” I told myself, as if that excused everything.

In reality, I was in the thick of running a growing nonprofit business, managing volunteers, answering customer questions, embroidering orders, and juggling a million things at once. I had convinced myself that this repeat caller—let’s call her Anna—was just too much. She called multiple times a week, sometimes even daily. I’d sized her up from her past calls: she asked lots of questions, maybe had special needs, and usually wanted things I didn’t feel I had time to give.

So, I ignored her.

And if we’re being honest… I didn’t want to talk to her.

Can you relate?

Has your phone ever lit up with a name or number and your first response was a full-body "Oh, NO!"? That immediate inner groan of, “Lord, not today. Not them.” And then, without missing a beat, you press ignore and move on with your day like it’s a ministry.

I justified it. I told myself I was stewarding my time well.

But then came the conviction.

One morning, during a 6:00 AM video prayer group, I began to pray over a dream that’s been on my heart for over a decade: opening a transitional home for men and women returning to the community from prison.

As I lifted my dream to God, I realized there was a mountain in the way—a mountain called "Poor Communication."

God has connected me with a partner for this dream. This partner is passionate and full of wisdom, but let’s just say... they treat email and voicemail like the plague. You send a message and hear back in biblical time—weeks, maybe months later.

Frustrated, I prayed, “God, touch their heart. Help them communicate. I can’t move forward if they don’t respond.”

And that’s when the Holy Spirit gently, lovingly, but very clearly tapped me on the shoulder.

“Okay Kacie. What about your heart?”

Ouch!

Suddenly, I thought of Anna. And also the lady minister who’d called to ask about starting her own sewing school in another country... and the list of people I had dismissed, ignored, or delayed—not because I didn’t care, but because I was busy.

Too busy to listen.

Too busy to love.

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Matthew 22:37–39 (NLT)

That verse hit differently that morning. Because loving your neighbor isn’t just about big gestures like preaching at a women's conference or leading ministry in front of an audience; it's about the little things: Like returning a phone call. Looking someone in the eye. Pausing long enough to truly see them.

God reminded me that all of His children are worthy of acknowledgment.

Every Anna.

Every caller.

Every question-asker.

Not because they’re convenient, but because they’re created in His image.

If I’m too busy to love people, I’m too busy. Period.

So now, I’m learning to slow down.

To respond to people—even the ones who stretch my patience.

To answer the phone (and if I can't answer at the moment, to diligently return phone calls), and most importantly, to ask God to help me love like He does.

(Oh, Lord, please help me in this area)

Because ministry isn’t always on a platform—it’s often found in the interruptions we’d rather avoid.

A Prayer:

Father God,Thank You for Your gentle correction and unending grace. Forgive us for the moments we've chosen convenience over compassion. Teach usto love like You—to truly see others, to listen with patience, and to respond with kindness. Help us be more like Jesus, who never ignored a cry for help or dismissed a soul in need. Slow our steps, soften our heart, and align our priorities with Yours. May we be a reflection of Your love, even in the smallest interactions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bonus Resource: If this resonates, check out my book Self-Esteem Through Scripture: Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of God. It’s full of reminders about who you are in Christ. You can grab it on Amazon (and yes, I go back and reread it myself when I need a reminder!).

Hi, my name is Kacie Starr Long. I am an author, and speaker and I love to use my voice to point people to Jesus. When I'm not writing, I'm either hanging out with my husband or sewing. God delivered me from food addiction and I have a sewing ministry, called the Sew Hope Community Sewing Room. I am the proud wife of Alfred T. Long, Sr and together we lead a non-profit that serves prisoners and their families. Connect with me at www.InspiredOverflow.com and via my YouTube page for Christian teachings and encouragement.