That Moment…
It happened.
That phone call that doesn't come at the normal time of day. It's an odd time for a call from that person. You try to be calm and answer in a happy, non-assuming tone, but the caller's voice isn't quite right. It's apparent that something is wrong. Your stomach drops and your breath hangs in your throat. The room starts spinning and your mind just goes into overdrive with all the different possibilities of the likely tragic news that's about to come from that phone, through your ears and into your mind to process. Can you process it? Will you be able to even finish hearing what it is?
The words form, and your ears receive them. Your mind conjures ten thousand questions, but nothing comes from your mouth. Suddenly you are unable to form words. What to do? Do you scream "NO!"? Do you tell them everything will be okay when you can't possibly know that to be the truth? Or, do you calmly respond, "I'm praying right now" and hit your knees right then and there?
On this day, when I received "that" call, as I felt the blood drain from my head and my stomach flip over, I fell to my knees and I prayed. I asked God to take them into His arms and to cover them. Beseeched for His presence and peace. Pleaded for His will to be done, then thanked Him for the gift of His love and mercy. An immediate peace came over me. I sincerely felt a wave of calm. At first I wondered if I was just hoping for that feeling of peace, but no, it was the presence and peace of God. I knew His hand was on them and I knew that He was listening to me.
As the hours went by, my mind kept turning to the incident and trying to process the possible outcome. Overwhelmingly, the peace stayed and the time flew by. Thankfully, everything was truly okay. The tests came back clear and praises to God for His mercy and hand in the details went flying up.
The results of tragic news don't always end on a positive note, but one thing is constant, God is always there. He's there in the good times and in the bad. His help and comfort is always available. Guidance and protection are at the ready and no one can listen as intently as He.
