Gene McNaughton didn't have time for God; he was too busy enjoying life. Successful in his work, respected in his community, in good health—why should he need God? And today he was doing what he loved to do more than anything else—bird hunting. It was cold, and that Arkansas air was biting—exhilarating. A new dog added to his excitement. All was well with Gene McNaughton.

His dog flushed a covey. Not bad shooting old boy, Gene thought to himself, and Sandy is retrieving just great!

"Now drop it!" That's bad. She isn't dropping the game. Gene laid his gun on the ground and proceeded to scold the excited pup. She stepped on the trigger. Odd—one minute all's well, and the next minute Gene is lying on the cold, Arkansas ground with a gaping wound in his leg, bleeding, isolated, and no one knows where he is.

"God? I need some help down here. This is some serious stuff. I'll do anything if You'll just get me out of this mess. I'll give money to the church. I'll even start going to church!" No answer. It's midday, but you can't tell it. It's getting colder, or at least it seems that way to Gene. The bleeding isn't as bad, but the pain is deep, intense.

"God, I need Your help. I agree with You—I haven't given You much thought these past years, but I plan to change all that; I really do. I'll start living my life for You—You know, my money, my job, my family, my managerial skills. I want to start using all those things for You, but I need You to take care of this one situation right now before I can start on that new plan." No answer. It was seventeen degrees last night. If there were just some trees around here instead of this open field. "Well, God, it looks like I'm not gonna make it. That bargaining didn't impress You much, did it? Oh, well, bargaining time is over now. I've been wrong all along and I know it. I need You, God. I need Your Son, Jesus."

Strange. A peace. "I love You, Lord. Doesn't really matter, does it? If I don't make it tonight, I'll be with You. Thanks for loving me, for letting me come in at the last minute like this. I'm just sorry I didn't respond until I was out of it." A farmer was heading home, driving down a little country road. Is that a man out there? I'd better check it out . . ..

I (Anabel) tried making deals with God.Thirty years is a long time to hold out on a deal, but I held out. I wasn't lying on the ground with a bloody leg that would eventually have to be amputated, as Gene's was, but I was desperate for help. I was hurting, and I finally came to the same conclusion Gene reached: "Lord, I can't get myself out of this one. You're going to have to do it all for me. I'm trusting You, Lord. I'm not going to tell You what to do or how to do it. I just want You to know I love You." A peace. A wonderful peace. No bargaining—if You will do this, I will do that. I just relinquished everything to Him as God. I gave up. Are you still trying to bargain with Him? Why don't you give up? It's your move.