He’s Paying Attention

It was January of 2013 and I was terrified. The symptoms that led to Dale’s job loss were a mystery to the doctors. The MRI  came back clear, so they had no explanation for the brain issues we were seeing. Dale was doing his best to look for a job, but I was more and more doubtful of his abilities. The mortgage and other bills still had to be paid, and my income alone was not enough. The few close friends and family that knew of our situation were very generous.  Because of their kind gifts, we paid our January bills.

Sunday, January 6th I woke up early and spent some time talking with God. I thanked him for providing for us, but I knew that those gifts came from loved ones who were simply paying attention. In my heart I sensed that there was a long road ahead of us and it terrified me. In a moment of desperation I asked God to show me a sign that HE was paying attention. I asked him to provide for us through a source that was so far removed from my friends and family that I would know God had moved on our behalf.

The very next day I received an envelope in the mail from an address I didn’t recognize. My sister- in- law has a friend named Jen whom I have never met. She sent me a card and this is what it said:

Dear Lisa, I am Stacie’s friend Jen. I was telling my mother about you and what is currently going on and she gave me this to give to you. God told her to.

Enclosed was a check for $100. I read the card over and over as I became aware that I was holding in my hands the very answer to my prayer! The check was dated December 22. It was written weeks before I prayed, but divine delay had timed it perfectly. The letter was sitting in my city post office before I even prayed that Sunday morning. I marveled at how it had come from the mother of someone I didn’t even know. Tears welled up in my eyes as I heard God’s still, small, voice in my heart say; “See, I’m paying attention.” From that day on our needs were met. Sometimes the supply came in the form of extra jobs for me. It came in the form of favor with Social Security. It came through many friends and family God used to provide for us. He is a good good father.

It is my prayer that you will also see that he is paying attention to you. Matthew 6:26 says “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store in barns, and yet the Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” I am grateful that this sweet woman listened to the quiet prompting of the Lord. Her gift soothed my heart and provided a buoy of faith and a hope for the future. It is my desire to live my life being sensitive to those quiet nudges. I want to be an instrument of hope and a partner with the Lord to bless others. What an adventure!