It was, without a doubt, one of the most difficult calls I've received. The dear heart in question was sobbing so hard, I could barely understand her. Immediately, my throat went dry and my blood pressure climbed, every muscle tensed as tried to calm her down for my sake.
"Dear Heart, hold on, hold on....let me pray." The prayer wasn't much more than "Help us Jesus, we need you. Help my friend breathe, help us please."
Slowly, painfully, the story unfolded as she gasped for breath and tried to stop crying.
"Never," she whimpered, "I've never been so ashamed..."
The conversation was awful. My darling friend had slipped into a store to purchase a bottle of wine for a hostess gift on the way to a dinner*. She was caught off guard when approached by a young woman who asked her name. She was dumbfounded when the blonde proceeded to apologize for "talking to you in the store like this, but I know you have small children and I think you should know what is going on." Right there, in the liquor store, Mrs. Blonde proceeded to blow up my sweet friends' world. Informing her that her husband was cheating on her and frequenting websites she never knew existed. The devastation took less than a minute and was absolute. There were no survivors. It was unexpected, unedited and unpleasant.
A younger me would have seen the encounter as an attack of the enemy. I would have classified the exchange as one straight from hell, intent on maiming my friend's confidence and faith. The older me however, knows how to spot a gift when it is given.** The year before the implosion had been difficult. Strain, disappointment and fear had been my friends portion for too long. We were praying regularly for God to fix what was broken and bring issues to the surface. We had no idea what we were asking and no idea how God was going to respond to those petitions. Heaven's answer to prayer came in wrappings so adverse, I started calling it a "rough package."
I can tell you now, almost two years later, the rough package that wrecked my friend was one of the most precious gifts she has been given. She would agree, although it would be through tears that still fall readily from her heart. When we speak, I bless the woman who confronted my friend. I thank the Lord that He spoke to her pagan heart and gave her the courage to speak truth to a stranger. I am thankful that the years of fear and uncertainty are finally lifting, and that my dear companion is starting to laugh again. God has seen fit to heal the devastation and to reward her with blessings she could never have imagined as she walks out of the shadows.
And you friend? Any unwanted packages delivered to your door lately? Has God who loves you jealously, sent an answer to prayer that you want to send back? Take heart, it is not a mistake. God is watching over you and will not leave as you struggle to unwrap all you have been given. Though the outside tears your flesh and fills your heart with pain, He will remain faithful. How you are feeling now will change as God walks you through the valley. This parcel will not destroy you. In due time, you will come out again.
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43: 1-3
xoxK
*I just used the term "hostess gift."
** Dear Jesus, I don't really mean that. I just needed to finish that sentence. I don't know anything, and if I accidentally do know something, it is only because you point it out.
