We had been talking for three hours in a restaurant while I was home on furlough. The conversation was becoming intense as my twin brother poured out his heart. I could hardly believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. I had prayed so hard and so long and it was evident that as he talked, God was answering my prayer. When our mom died in 2009, we seemed to go in two different directions. I clung to Christ, but my brother was angry that God did not heal the horrific, cancerous disease that slowly took mom’s life. We prayed for healing, but healing, by our definition, did not come.
Satan was on the prowl and began to convince my brother that God did not care about him or our family…
God did not love him…
And he would be better off without God!
As my brother entertained this evil voice, it became louder and more convincing and for seven years, he listened.
This is what my brother says about that time…
Sometimes in life, God allows things to happen to us and our families, we may never understand but in my specific case, God opened my eyes and allowed me to see the purpose of tragedy. It just took me seven years of horrible decisions and many instances of His protecting hand guiding my reckless steps.
The greatest God fearing and loving woman to ever exist, I had the privilege to call “mother” for 34 years. Once God had better use for her with Him, my life went off course by my own doing. However, He never moved, He never left me. He simply allowed people and events into my life for lessons that were hard and difficult.
But 7 years later, God began to call me back to Him, healing my broken heart and forgiving my ways of grieving.
I’m very thankful for the people in my life that never stopped praying for me and believing that God would continue in me what He began years ago. This new but familiar experience of rebuilding a relationship with God is very refreshing and a process only God can control. The Bible says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him” in Psalm 37:7, so as He has waited for me I wait as He unveils my next steps.
My brother has been my “prayer request” in my accountability group in Alabaster, my Bible study group in Swaziland, AIM’s sports ministry group, and in many conversations. I would simply ask, “Please keep praying that God will change his heart”, and God answered my prayer!
We do not always get the answer we are looking for, but God is in control and many times, we have to wait for His timing. If you are praying for something that does not seem to be changing, keep praying…the change might be right around the corner! Prayer works. God is faithful. His timing is perfect.
Thanks for following and supporting this ministry and reading about my furlough highlight!
It was great to see many of you during our time in the states!
Keep praying!
Michelle
