Encouragement
If you’ve ever had a child in trouble, as a parent you understand the depth of a breaking heart; you know the feeling of waking up and wondering what the day will hold. I was living out what many would consider a nightmare. My 17 year old daughter had made bad choices and drugs had lured her to the street, and there was nothing I could do but pray and trust in God.
Several days had past and I hadn’t heard from my daughter; I didn’t know if she was dead or alive. As each moment past I was learning to trust that God was in total control, and yet my heart was breaking.
One particular morning, I was in desperate need of simply knowing she was alive. I felt I was going to be crushed under the weight of the unknown and that seemed like more than I could bare, so I stopped what I was doing and dropped my head and uttered this prayer; “God I know you are in control, so can you just let me know if she is ok? Somehow can you let me know that she is still alive?”
Getting to this moment had been a process. As mothers we want to protect our children from the ugliness and dangers of the world, but there comes a time when they make choices and there is nothing you can do but trust in God. Many times, I’d told others going through similar situations, ‘God knows right where you are,’ and yet here I was, having to totally depend on Him for strength and trust He knew right where I was.
I spent hours in prayer, going through a process of learning to trust that God not only knew where she was, but also understood the depth of pain the rest of the family was enduring. I was continually putting her back on the altar, learning to grasp the concept that, while she was my child, over and above that, she was God’s child. As much as I loved her, He loved her even more.
On this particular morning, I simply needed to know God was hearing me. I needed to know that my child was not dead in an alley somewhere. My request was twofold, not only would I know she was alive, I’d also know He was still listening. I was trying to be careful and not cross a line; I didn’t want to come across as not trusting, but I just needed to know she was ok.
I uttered my prayer and went back to work concentrating on the tasks at hand. The phone rang, and I answered it putting aside the earlier request.
“Hello, may I speak to your daughter,” the woman asked.
“Which daughter would you like to speak too?”
“Oh, I’m looking for India; she gave me this number and said this is how I could reach her.” I explained to the lady that India was not available but I would give her a message if she’d like to leave one.
She says, “That would be great. I saw her this morning and we were talking about gardening. She gave me this number and said this is how I could reach her and I told her I would call to give her some information.”
The conversation ended with me letting the woman know I’d give India the message, and I went back to work.
Then, as if God had hit the rewind button, I was reminded of my earlier prayer. I’d asked God to let me know my daughter was alive. This stranger had called and said she’d spoke to my child within the hour and that my daughter had given her the number to call.
At that moment, I understood that prayer still works. I understood that God was still in control. I understood that He’d not only heard my cry, and was concerned that my heart was broken, but He knew right where my child was and she was alive. She wouldn’t come home that day, but by her giving the stranger my phone number, God had answered my prayer, and I would continue the journey knowing that He was in control!
Jounda LaMance © March 27, 2008
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Yes, we know those messages when they come. It puts me in awe how personally God works in our lives. So, many thanks to our Savior for the healings in your precious family. Love ya, take care, Jacque