.His Word…nothing more.

Two years ago during a chapel on Good Friday, a dear friend and teacher here at the school I work at walked up to me, gave me a hug and said, “I’m praying for the Lord to grant you the desires of your heart.”  It was an emotional experience for me as she did not know of our current struggle in trying to have a child at that time.  I can vividly remember going to our service at church during the noon hour that same day a complete wreck.  I sat in the back and could hardly make it through the service without emotions taking over.  As I shared the incident with Grant, he too was so encouraged that the Lord would give this woman such wisdom and discernment.  I shared with her the following week of our longing for children and our difficulty to conceive and her response was that she sensed in her spirit that was taking place.

The following year we met weekly to pray together.  She walked with me through the pits of my infertility, through failed dr. visits and procedures, and she journeyed with me to the heights of us hearing of our Lyle.

I can not express the extent of how this woman has been used by the Lord.   And the most recent came this last week.  One afternoon she emailed me the following, saying that she had been praying the story of Nehemiah over Grant and I.  She had been reminded of this testimony of God’s great power and wanted to encourage us with it.

Here is the message of her email:

I want to share with you a bit more about my prayers for you with Nehemiah in mind.
As you know, Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, a position of high honor, great responsibility and great peril. After he heard that Jerusalem was in ruins/shame, Nehemiah grieved, fasted and prayed. This was in the month of Kislev(Nov/Dec). He began to pray. By Nisan (Mar/Apr) the king noticed his depression and asked him about it, noting it was something personal. With great fear, he blurts out his pain over his home.  As the king asked him what he wanted, he prayed to God and asked the impossible, to return to his city. He is permitted, given letters and the financial means to go!

You and your husband have the position of honor of being a Child of God. You have gone before our “Lord and King” with the burden of your hearts, grieving, fasting and praying. He knew beforehand your desire and provided an answer and financial means out of the blue. Your course was set.

Nehemiah had escorts to the city with all that the king could provide. Without anyone else knowing his plan, he sets out at night to survey the city, to carry out his plan. God had put it in his heart. “Let’s start rebuilding!” The plan was masterful. Every family/tribe rebuilt a portion of the wall, from the bottom to the top.

You have your escorts too, all who love you, bringing you both before the Lord in prayer continually. His Angels too. His plan for you was revealed. God put it on your hearts. “Let’s build a family!” God’s plan is masterful.

Nehemiah had opposition from many. They plotted together to attack and defeat the plan. But Nehemiah prayed and posted guards. He said, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome will fight for you!”

Your opposition is unseen, working to discourage and defeat God’s plan.  God made the plan! Originated the plan and put it in your hearts. “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome will fight for you!”

Nehemiah was prepared. He prayed, he trusted, he believed. The wall was completed in 52 incredible days!

You are prepared. You pray, you trust, you believe in a mighty God. We don’t know the time schedule, but we believe what God CAN do.

These thoughts really encouraged me, I hope that they will encourage you.

——————

I found myself in tears on Tuesday morning as I shared with her how much our story truly does coincide with Nehemiah’s.  You see, when Grant and I were called to adoption, we knew it would be expensive.  For those of you who have followed our journey, you are aware of God’s great provision for us. This post was shared after we had reached 100% of our needed international fees.  And in the video on that post, you can see this picture that showed God provided the exact funds for us in just 52 days.

Beyond any coincidence of our stories both having the significance of 52 days, we more so believe in the truth of this passage and of God’s power to do mighty things.  Her encouragement was for us to keep our minds steadfast on Him and His ability to continue to display His power in finishing His good work.  In bringing Lyle home.  We cling to the truth of Nehemiah 4 to not be afraid and remember that God is fighting for us.  He is our advocate in Korea, actively working to bring our son home.

Because of the faithfulness of this woman to guide me to truth over and over again, I have learned that one of the greatest things we can do for another is to point them to Scripture.  There is no word more powerful, more comforting, more encouraging.