Yesterday at work I received more bad news. Two phone calls with a breast cancer diagnosis. The first, from my dearest friend, her sister Leslie 30 just diagnosed. The other call from a friend telling me a mutual friend’s mom has cancer. This is too much! Another friend picked up some medication, and told me father has cancer. Meanwhile the specialist recommends a second opinion for her daughter’s rare case. This is too much!
While at work, I locked myself in the bathroom, I needed to talk to God. I prayed “Lord, please this is too much, 6 women I know with breast cancer and so many friends who are hurting too. Help! This is too much!”
He reminds me again, April, I’ve got this!
“Lord please intervene! Help me get through this day.” I say as I wipe away smeared mascara and open the bathroom door. “April, you have a visitor” I hear. God intervened! An angel, not dressed in flowing white robes, but rather a dress and bonnet. My angel is German Baptist. I meet my friend in the vitamin aisle. She hugs me and doesn’t let go. I love those kind of hugs. She doesn’t know yet what’s going on, as I sob, she whispers:
Weeping may remain for a night, but JOY comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5
This morning I wake, still heavy hearted. ” I love you too, Lord” I say out loud for His ears only. The tears begin to flow. So thankful I do not have to work this weekend. I need an intervention. I grab my grandmother’s quilt, and crawl onto my red chair. Holding my bible against my heart I pray. “Lord, speak to me today. I need you to intervene. There are too many of my friends hurting and my heart aches too. Lord, speak to me so that I can encourage others.”
I let my bible fall open. God intervenes! On the tear stained pages these verses in Psalms are circled:
We wait in hope, for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May our unfailing love rest upon up O Lord, as we put our hope in you. Psalms 33:20-22
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalms 34: 17-20
I flip back a page and read the words the angel whispered to me.
Weeping may remain for a night, but JOY comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5
Could we all be just a page away from JOY?
We all need an intervention. Sometimes it is from the Lord himself. Othertimes it is a friend delivering a simple meal, or speaking an encouraging word. Don’t let the day slip by without being an angel to a friend, in need of an intervention!
~April