His Care is There
In our Bible study last week, we were asked to share something "amazing" that God has done in our lives. As you can easily imagine, my list was readily available and lengthy. But, I felt like I was missing something. It took a while, but finally it dawned on me. I am SO glad I remembered, because this is truly amazing to me, and I would hate to forget it....
A few weeks ago, I saw a friend that I had not seen in several months. I was sharing with her some of the difficulties I was concerned about, in terms of how cancer impacts marriage and intimacy (see previous post). She listened, identified where she could, and then with a thoughtful look on her face she shared the following.
"I hope it is appropriate to tell you this...I've been praying to know the right time, and maybe this is it. But, I have been keeping up with you through __________ (a mutual friend.) One night, in the middle of the night...like 3 -4 in the morning--I woke up. I hurt, like a pain in my chest....I just hurt. So I was asking the Lord, "What is this?" And He said, "Beverly. You need to pray for her." Not surprising, it was the morning of my surgery. My jaw dropped open, and my knees literally buckled.
My friend, whom I asked permission of to tell this story, is a very godly woman. I really admire her, and I have always learned from her...just the way she approaches life and Bible study. So, it is also not surprising that she went on with this profound insight: "I just want you to know that God was seeking people out to pray for you. I'm not sure how all that works, but He was prompting people to pray on your behalf. I just wanted you to know."
I still get chills. My friend asked me not to share her name, so I won't. But I was struck: "_____________, you hurting on account of me...that was Jesus! That's what He did for us! That's amazing...I'm so sorry you had to hurt because of what I was going through, but thank you!"
My friend wanted no credit, and I want no sense of being "special" in any way, shape or form. I share this because I think it IS amazing: I was given the huge gift of a personal reminder: that God...who created the universe....is attentive to us as individuals. That too, gives me chills.
I'm with my friend here...I don't claim to understand much about this...about His personal interaction, or why He would prompt people to pray, when it seems He could just take care of it. But, if I ever needed a personal example of how God seeks to reveal to us that He loves us...I have one now. And maybe that is the point of Him working through His people...that we have a tangible way of knowing He is awares and cares. It is humbling. Who am I to receive His attention at all, that He would wake my friend to have her pray for me?
I also share this because I love how it has taught me. When God puts people on my heart and mind, I will remember (I HOPE!) that it is His love for them that put them there. Remembering that gives me a new way to talk to those people, too: I no longer have to be embarressed, like I am saying, "Look at me, I prayed for you, aren't you impressed over how sensitive I am to the Lord?" No! Now, I love that I have a new way to think and share..."I think the Lord put you on my heart, and I just want you to know that He was acting on your behalf. I think He wants to remind you that He loves you!"
I love that framing of my friend's experience. I love that it highlight's God mercy and compassion and love. And as I think about it, I write about it to those who read my blog...well, because, ...I think God wants to remind you that He is there and caring for you, not just me.
A few weeks ago, I saw a friend that I had not seen in several months. I was sharing with her some of the difficulties I was concerned about, in terms of how cancer impacts marriage and intimacy (see previous post). She listened, identified where she could, and then with a thoughtful look on her face she shared the following.
"I hope it is appropriate to tell you this...I've been praying to know the right time, and maybe this is it. But, I have been keeping up with you through __________ (a mutual friend.) One night, in the middle of the night...like 3 -4 in the morning--I woke up. I hurt, like a pain in my chest....I just hurt. So I was asking the Lord, "What is this?" And He said, "Beverly. You need to pray for her." Not surprising, it was the morning of my surgery. My jaw dropped open, and my knees literally buckled.
My friend, whom I asked permission of to tell this story, is a very godly woman. I really admire her, and I have always learned from her...just the way she approaches life and Bible study. So, it is also not surprising that she went on with this profound insight: "I just want you to know that God was seeking people out to pray for you. I'm not sure how all that works, but He was prompting people to pray on your behalf. I just wanted you to know."
I still get chills. My friend asked me not to share her name, so I won't. But I was struck: "_____________, you hurting on account of me...that was Jesus! That's what He did for us! That's amazing...I'm so sorry you had to hurt because of what I was going through, but thank you!"
My friend wanted no credit, and I want no sense of being "special" in any way, shape or form. I share this because I think it IS amazing: I was given the huge gift of a personal reminder: that God...who created the universe....is attentive to us as individuals. That too, gives me chills.
I'm with my friend here...I don't claim to understand much about this...about His personal interaction, or why He would prompt people to pray, when it seems He could just take care of it. But, if I ever needed a personal example of how God seeks to reveal to us that He loves us...I have one now. And maybe that is the point of Him working through His people...that we have a tangible way of knowing He is awares and cares. It is humbling. Who am I to receive His attention at all, that He would wake my friend to have her pray for me?
I also share this because I love how it has taught me. When God puts people on my heart and mind, I will remember (I HOPE!) that it is His love for them that put them there. Remembering that gives me a new way to talk to those people, too: I no longer have to be embarressed, like I am saying, "Look at me, I prayed for you, aren't you impressed over how sensitive I am to the Lord?" No! Now, I love that I have a new way to think and share..."I think the Lord put you on my heart, and I just want you to know that He was acting on your behalf. I think He wants to remind you that He loves you!"
I love that framing of my friend's experience. I love that it highlight's God mercy and compassion and love. And as I think about it, I write about it to those who read my blog...well, because, ...I think God wants to remind you that He is there and caring for you, not just me.
posted by Beverly @ 12:50 PM
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