As I drove to church yesterday morning it was with a sense of anticipation and expectancy. I had not been there for several weeks, for a variety of reasons.
I pulled into the parking lot and a sense of fear gripped me. That ugly, dark, unrelenting monster that had tried to pull me down and keep me isolated and alone, especially in the last few months. I had arrived a few minutes early, so I just sat there for a bit, battling the desire to turn tail and run. "No!" I told myself sternly, "you are NOT going home!" Just then I saw a friend heading for the front door and I hurried to join her. (It's always friendlier with two!)
We walked on in, where I saw two other friends chatting. They warmly welcomed me as I moved on in to find a seat.
The songs and worship time was refreshing and encouraging and the Presence of God was there. It was followed by a Spirit-filled sermon that touched my heart, where new truths were brought out. At the end Pastor Eric invited anyone to come forward who needed prayer. I knew that was me. (I'm not very brave when it comes to such things but when you get desperate enough for God, you just do it!)
He invited another friend to come join us in prayer and the tears flowed as I felt the touch of God through them. Such love and compassion and the heart of Jesus. Words of life and healing spoken over me. She prayed for the fear and for divine connections to ease the loneliness.
I made my way to the back of the church and stopped to talk to another lady who, in the course of our conversation, asked me if I'm in a small group. (This is something I've been praying about for some time.) She also had been praying/longing for a good group. We laughed and cried and couldn't believe how good God is. I suggested another family we might ask to join us and it was someone she had already been wanting to connect with, too!
Driving home the tears continued to fall...happy tears, thankful tears, tears that told of God's goodness. I knew I was meant to be there that day.
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Some answers to prayer come quickly and others take years. But He has not forgotten! Don't believe it for a minute. At the perfect time He WILL step in and you will KNOW that He is God. Don't underestimate His power to give you the desires of your heart. He loves you much more than you know!
