I spoke with a wonderful lady two days ago. She was staying with a friend here in Lewis Center, far from her home. She had to return in one week for a court date regarding a restraining order she had on her husband. She had nothing of any monetary value. He had taken her truck, her clothes and most of her money.
But she had God. She told me with a sobbing voice that she knew He was still there for her. She was convinced that He would not fail her or forsake her. She knew there was a great lesson for her to learn in this trial.
I asked her if she had her bible from home. Through that same sobbing voice she said she did not…that her husband had taken that too. I was able to give this wonderful saint some small help. We prayed, I gave her some food from The Open Table, and I shared with her some names and numbers for local agencies that might be able to help her.
And then, I gave her a bible from our lost-and-found area.
At that moment I experienced the most touching and humbling thing I have seen in a long time. She grabbed that bible from my hand and hugged it to her chest. As she sat there, clinging to the Word of God, she rocked back and forth saying over and over again, “At least I’ve got a bible!” She had nothing else, but she had the Word! She clung to it like a drowning person would cling to a life preserver!
It is amazing to me how God uses unforeseen circumstances to speak to me. This lady I had never met before and may never meet again reminded me of the passion and devotion with which I ought to cling to the Word of God.
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Luke 8:15 (NLT)
Oh God, help me to cling to Your Word today and in the days to come! Thank you that Your Word is alive and active, that it encourages and challenges, that it comforts and disturbs! Help the example of this lady to never leave my mind…and thank You for allowing me to meet her!
