|
June 2002 Table of Contents
From My Heart To Yours
Opportunity In Difficulty
By Jackie Evans
 Angels: I have a great love and respect for, and fascination with them. I have angel pins that I wear on jackets, notepads with angels and even my checks are adorned with angels. I love to read of stories in which angels have intervened and brought safety to people in trouble and I never hesitate to ask God for angels to accompany me and act as a protector not only for travel safety but also for angels to carry and be responsible for my luggage. The job of 'luggage angels' is to make sure our luggage arrives safely with us to our destination. I can envision, as I am packing for a trip, the angels running around in heaven saying something like, "Please God, don't make me go with her this time. I had my turn last month, let another angel go on this trip. Those baggage compartments on planes are way too crowded and uncomfortable; not to mention how heavy her bags are!"
I love that there are so many ways angels minister to us as believers. But have you ever thought of yourself as being an
angel to someone else? I'm sure I've been called a lot of things but I never remember anyone referring to me as their 'Angel'…not
even, and especially Jerry!
I was talking to my mom last week and she related to me an incident that happened to her recently. Two of her friends were
having surgery and she was on her way to the hospital to be with them. (I find it very encouraging that, at 85 years of age, one
cancerous kidney and part of her left lung removed three years ago, she hasn't seemed to slow down in the least) In trying to
get to the surgery area, she took a wrong turn. After a while, she met a lady who realized Mom was lost and asked if she could
help. Mom told her where she was going and received correct directions. One thing about Mom, you never have a conversation
with her without her bringing up what God has done for her. When she and Dad used to go to conferences with us, the hotel bell
staff; housekeeping staff; any other staff; no one was immune from the witness of Mom! And this lady was no exception. Before Mom
left to be on her way to the surgery center, she shared what God had done for her in bringing her through these two surgeries only
months apart. I remember when she went in for the first surgery. Her comment was, "Whatever the outcome, I'll be fine. If I wake
up here, that's what I want but if I don't, I'll be with Jesus."
After they talked for a while, Mom said tears came in to the lady's eyes and she told her that when she got up that morning,
she prayed that God would send her an angel that day and she told Mom, "You are my angel". What a great compliment to receive from
a stranger!
This incident reminds me of how impatient and frustrated we get when our day doesn't go as we have planned it. I remind Jerry all the time of how impatient he is with everything…red lights, traffic, slow gas pumps…you name it! But what if we took the time
to realize that God gives us various situations in our life for specific purposes and whenever troubles, bad times, frustrating
things, come to us, we need to look at what God wants us to receive from the situation…maybe even an opportunity in our difficulty.
I found a scripture a few weeks ago that I've written in the front of my Bible to keep it before me always so that I will never
forget the purpose of difficulties in my life:
I Peter 1:7. "These have come so that your faith---of greater worth than gold, which perishes though refined by fire---may be
proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
The way I see it, every difficulty that comes our way has one purpose and that is to result in praise, glory and honor to
Christ. Who knows, in your next difficulty, you may become someone's 'Angel'
Grateful for His Faithfulness!
Jackie
Back to Top
|
