GOD IN ACTION
19th Sep 2018
Many years ago I watched God in action comforting and helping a family who at that time had no time or need of Him. They had just moved house and knew no-one in the area. The father was taking his mother, who had helped with the move back to her home, and their 13 year old son had gone for the ride. Tragically, they were involved in a road traffic accident and all killed. The wife was on her own with a small toddler, an eight year old and surrounded by boxes and furniture.
I was asked to go to visit her in response to an SOS from her sister, who had contacted the fellowship where I was a member. I went feeling totally inadequate but relying on the Holy Spirit. seeking to be whatever this lady needed. I was carrying Jesus, nothing else, and when I arrived at the house, she welcomed me and recounted an amazing experience.
After the police had delivered the awful news, she cried out to God who she had previously rejected, and He graciously came to her. She told me that He had wrapped her in His arms, like a warm blanket and told her He would help her and never leave her. Of course, there were issues to face, pain to bear, battles with forgiveness, injustice and many questions. However, she and the family were embraced by the family of God and healing and restoration took place.
God is loving, compassionate, tender hearted - has a place in His heart for the desolate. Psalm 72:14 in The Message says, “He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out, he restores the wretched of the earth. He frees them from tyranny and torture—when they bleed, he bleeds; when they die, he dies.”
Since we have been in Australia, we received a message from our young neighbour telling us that her husband had died very unexpectedly leaving her with two small children. We immediately made contact and spoke with her, as did our son Daniel, who lives nearby.
Will you pray for this family to experience God’s loving comfort and help? Our prayer is that the very presence of Jesus will comfort for them and make Himself a very present help in their time of need.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
