Jim Moten called 911 to report two vehicles dangerously speeding on the highway. Crenshanda Williams was the 911 operator who answered the call. Well, sort of. Williams picked up the phone, heard the complaint, and hung up. Then, on the 911 recording, she can be heard saying, “Ain’t no one got time for this…for real!”
It turns out, Williams hangs up a lot. From October 2015 to March of 2016, Williams handled thousands of calls that lasted an abnormally short time – fewer than 20 seconds. Williams was charged with interfering in emergency calls, and is waiting for her court date. When asked why she hung up on all those calls, she said she “didn’t feel like talking to anyone” at those times.
Many people have expressed outrage over Williams’ lackadaisical attitude toward emergency calls. In one instance, she can be heard sighing right before she hangs up; it was an armed robbery that ended in the death of a storeowner! Clearly she was not a good fit for this job.
911 calls should be answered. The caller’s concerns should be heard. The appropriate action should be taken. None of that happens if the operator hangs up arbitrarily.
Thankfully, God doesn’t answer prayers that way! In fact, God answers before we call and knows our needs before we speak (Isaiah 65:24). God wants to hear from His children – in all things:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing;”
- Psalm 50:15, “call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you;”
- Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Of course, God does not delight in the prayers of those who reject Him. We must believe that He exists and that He answers prayers (11:6). We must not dedicate our lives to evil (Micah 3:4). We must ask according to His will (1 John 5:14-15).
But one thing is certain – God doesn’t arbitrarily hang up. God never says, “ain’t no one got time for this,” because He does…“for real!”
