Christian Living

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A Most Precious Gift
© 2006

by

Stephen A. Peterson


For nine weeks, Corena had been praying with and for Joyce, a 23 year old woman who was going through a time of grief, deep spiritual depression and personal anxiety. Joyce felt cut off from God. She felt that God was punishing her for years of sexual indiscretion with the death of her eight month old son and the void she felt as a result of this loss.

“God hates me!” she said. “I can’t face God. I can’t really pray ‘cause I really never learned how. I feel like a hypocrite if I even tried.”

Corena did a great deal of listening, shared many of the things she did to help her get through moments of sin and disobedience in her difficult walk with God. Then she prayed aloud for Joyce when they were together and silently in the quiet of her room when she was alone. Still, nothing seemed to help Joyce’s situation or her problem with God.

Corena and her family was about to leave for two weeks to attend a professional medical conference in Minnesota then go on vacation in upstate Wisconsin. Before Corena and her family left, Joyce called to say goodbye. “Please have a safe trip and pleasant vacation?”

“Very well, Joyce. Will you do something for me?” Corena asked. “Will you pray that we’ll have a safe trip and pleasant vacation?”

Joyce hesitated, bit her lip, then said: “I’ll do it. I promise! I really mean it, too!”

When Corena and her family returned to Oklahoma, Joyce could hardly wait to tell her about her overcoming her fear of going before the throne of God. At last, she was able to pray, go to God to ask for forgiveness of her sins and reconcile the death of her son—all in the space of two weeks. She continued to grieve the death of her son but she knew now that she could talk to God as well as Joyce about it.

Are there people you know who seem to be afraid to reconcile their lives with a God who loves them unconditionally? Why don’t you try reversing the situation and have them pray for a need that is real in your life or in the life of someone they know who desperately needs it. It may very well be the most valuable and precious gift that you can give that person or persons.

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