7 Eleven Mic Drop

Old Town Fort Collins, CO has benefited from the addition of a Target store, that opened in November of 2021. In its past lives, the location was both a Safeway grocery store and a 24 Hour Fitness gym. The latter was open only a year before closing in March of 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

For many years prior, just across the street, the 7-Eleven store, a store with no gas station, offered Fort Collins locals basic junk food, coffee, liquor, and lotto tickets. To this day, it still does, while its competitor, Target, has stolen a great amount of its business.

About four years ago, one Sunday I walked down the street to the 7-Eleven to get some Starbucks Double Shot Mochas, to prepare for the workweek at Cinemark Movie Bistro & XD, and to also get change for doing laundry that week.

I was standing in line, just waiting as usual. Until, all of the sudden, a man came into the store, and then left almost instantly. Before leaving, he said only one thing…

“Hey guys, just gonna throw this out there but wanted to ask y’all. What if God is real?”

Before anyone had any time to answer, he left. Yet, it was at that moment, that I felt chills, that lingered as I left the store and walked back to my apartment building.

I knew then, and I know that, that God is real. I never had to read a book called Heaven is for Real to know that Heaven exists. Yet, there have been so many times in my life that I doubted, and even doubt still, that God is in control and that He can handle everything.

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus knew that all of His children and all of mankind would worry, doubt, and not believe that He is good and He is in control.

Knowing His children then, and knowing us all now, He offers a solution in His Word.

Matthew 17:20 NIV

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

We all have our problems and issues. We all have burdens that are difficult and at times seem impossible to carry. Yet, the greatest journeys in our lives begin with the moments where we surrender our doubts and burdens to the Lord, believe in Him, and ask Him to “help us in our unbelief.”

Who knows, we may even be used by God to step into the lives of those around us, even if for mere minutes, to get them to start asking questions, to believe and to have faith in the Lord, for the first time, or the first time in a long time.

In conclusion, let’s believe, believe again, and be a light to lead others to the only true hope, joy, and peace that is found in Jesus Christ.

Until Next Time,

Jacob McGowen