Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL (01/23/20)
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TITLE: Arduous Journey, Answered Prayer | Previous Challenge Entry
By Faith Noles
01/28/20 -
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After much prayer, I finally conceded to forced retirement and accepted that I was no longer physically capable of working. My acceptance didn’t stop the feelings of loss. I was devastated for several months, suffering situational depression with severe bouts of weeping. I was grieving for both the loss of employment and the increased loss of mobility.
We go through many changes and loss throughout our lives. I wasn’t prepared for this change even though I was educated concerning the potential depression and denial after losing one’s job. Believe me, head knowledge is not the same as empirical knowledge.
Memories of my past year of employment flooded my mind. During the work day, I would call out to God in agony as the chronic pain became overwhelming. I prayed that I would be able to complete work assignments; I prayed for mercy and for deliverance. I had told God I couldn’t endure my situation: I didn’t have the strength to continue working through the unbearable pain. At the end of each work day, I was totally exhausted and practically bedridden. The weekends were spent in recuperating from the previous work week.
After several months my soul became still as I reflected on the time I had wasted grieving and even questioning God’s will for my life. The Holy Spirit whispered, “God has answered your prayers.” Although the Holy Spirit was speaking to me gently, a shock wave rocked my brain!
“What?! Lord, You answered my prayers by allowing me to lose my job?”
I became quiet, listening to His still, small voice. When my Father speaks, it is like light flooding my mind with understanding:
“I opened a blind beggar’s eyes by applying spit mud to his eyes and instructing him to wash in the Pool of Siloam.”
“I healed Naaman of leprosy when he followed my command to wash seven times in the Jordan River.”
“I filled all the pots with oil that a widow could borrow thus saving the sons who were going to become slaves to settle her debts.”
God’s peace settled over me like a warm blanket.
I’m sure the blind beggar, Naaman and the widow all prayed for healing or deliverance. Do you think any of them could even imagine how God would answer their prayers?
We often want God to answer prayer our way, even when His answer is ‘yes’. I thought the answer to my prayer would be physical healing with an enormous business opportunity; however, God is the Potter and I am the clay. He answers my prayer as He wills not as I will.
I am now able to spend more time writing, reading my favorite books, studying the Bible, praying and lavishing love on my six-year-old grandson who lives with me.
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps”. Proverbs 16:9 (KJV)
I understand Father. Because of Your everlasting love, the path You have determined for me will always end well.
This is a true story.
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Glad that it all ended well for you. This was a good story, and well-written.