Goose Bumps

I realize it looks like I didn't write for three days so you'd be forced to see that book introduction post so many days in a row. That's not it at all! I was at the lake this weekend, and there's no internet there....so....you got a break from me! But I am back!

And do I ever have a story for you!

I love this story so much, I can’t stand it. This is one of those life moments I hope I never forget.

God’s been working with me on trust, and I have to be truthful…I’m a struggling student at best. And Thursday morning was not a shining moment in trust. I sat in my office, working on my lists and feeling very restless in my mind.

At last I did what I’ve come to learn to do when such a moment hits. I closed my door and prayed out loud while I worked. (I close the door so my co-workers don’t eavesdrop on God. Or maybe because I don’t want strange looks from those who pass by the door and find me talking out loud…)

But it’s too cool a story to not let you eavesdrop:

Bekah: Abba, I’m struggling and I need help. Please help me.
God: You need to trust Me.
Bekah: I need a word from You.God: TRUST. That’s the word you need. (HEY. I told you I was a struggling student.)
Bekah: I think I’m feeling the effects of being down two prayer warriors today.

(Side note: I have a couple of friends who have taken it upon themselves to pray for me often during this season of my life and they email me every day, even if I never answer, just to tell me they’re praying. That particular day, both of them ended up with family health emergencies and I knew their attentions were rightfully focused on their own families.)

God: Bek, you have Sue Ann. And where two or three are gathered…

Sue Ann is, in the words of my friend Julie, a treasure. She has declared herself a prayer warrior for me and has been used by God for more than one profound moment in my desert. I know she prays for me, but I hadn’t been thinking of her right then. Determined to overcome, I clenched my jaw, straightened up in my chair and tried really hard to trust.

Remaining deeply engrossed in my lists, I literally jumped when my phone buzzed about three minutes later. I normally move it to silent at work but I was hoping to hear word from one of the prayer warriors about the health emergency, so I’d left it on vibrate. I glanced over, fully expecting to see a text, but the screen flashed Call from Sue Ann Harper.

That’s odd. She’d never called me at work before. I don’t take calls at work, but I knew I should answer that one. I picked it up and Sue Ann’s sweet voice said, “I know you’re at work and I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds here.”

Her next words brought goose bumps.

“I was just sitting here praying for you while I was doing my devotions and the Lord said I should call and read this to you. Do you have just a minute?”

I was pretty sure that since I’d just told the Lord I needed a word and HE had just reminded me about Sue Ann, a phone call from Sue Ann in which she promised to give me a word was a clear sign of Divine leading.

Sue Ann began to read: Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Yes, I shook my head. Hmmm….can we say TRUST!?!?)

Then she began to read words from Max Lucado’s book, When God Whispers Your Name. “Faith is trusting what the eye can’t see. Eyes see the prowling lion. Faith sees Daniel’s angel. Eyes see storms. Faith sees Noah’s rainbow. Eyes see giants. Faith sees Canaan. Your eyes see your faults. Your faith sees your Savior. Your eyes see your guilt. Your faith sees His blood. Your eyes see your grave. Your faith sees a city whose builder and maker is God. Your eyes look in the mirror and see a sinner, a failure, a promise breaker. But by faith you look in the mirror and see a robed prodigal bearing the ring of grace on your finger and the kiss of your Father on your face.”

I had goose bumps and tears. After she read that, she assured me of continued prayers and hung up the phone.

That is God at work.