by Ricky Doc Sauceda
Today is a special day. A classmate is celebrating her birthday. Her friends are posting to her facebook wall and she is thanking them. I am glad that she is able to have friends and thank them for their "well wishes."
I wanted to share my wishes for her, too. They were not received in the same way and it is hard for me to understand why. I was left with one avenue to do this and sent her a message in another way. I am left with a perplexed bewilderment over this. I don't know what value I have to my friend anymore.
This was on my mind when I began talking to a Texas state trooper this morning. He is a new friend and we talk about faith and family and life. He looked at me with a serious stare and had a need he addressed as he began to talk.
He and his wife are befriending a woman from their church that is undergoing an awful divorce. It has caused her to "hit bottom" and she is in deep emotional stress. They are discussing faith and healing and I can tell he had hit the end of his ability to help her.
He has not known this trouble. He and his wife have two children and their lives are based on Christian faith. There is love in that family that was built up with understanding and devotion. This new element is challenging him in a different way.
He surprised me with this next item. He implored me to begin praying for this woman and he was asking out of a deep need. I have no idea why he believes that my prayer can help this woman. I was very stunned by this request.
My journey is not a secret at my office. I have often shared my story to explain why I will not go out to clubs to find a companion. My co-workers have never met someone who "walked the talk." Some are gone now and the ones left are either friendly or are "coming around" to see that I am not "full of it."
Maybe that is why the trooper talked to me today. So, when I had a moment of privacy I did indeed pray and felt a big surge throughout my body. I know that the Lord heard me and will do what He can for this woman...what her faith will allow.
I told him about my experience from the prayer and he was happy. I just don't know when that will happen. Nobody should expect the Lord to work immediately for their time of need. It could come quickly or it could take time, like for me. It has not been instant in any way for me.
I have had to work daily on my "faith walk." I have had to invest all of my love and hope in Him to get to where I am right now. I can smile and feel peace in me that wouldn't be there if it were not for the Lord. I have occasionally shared that without the Lord holding me together I would wither up and blow away.
This is the dividend of constant faith and trust in the Lord. I have the ability to wake up each day and live each moment for what it is, and not what I want it to be. Those moments are getting more special and more rewarding as the days approach. I am happy to be alive and to be experiencing life in the person that I have become.
You cannot buy this peace. You must learn to build your life on solid ground. You must use your abilities wisely and think your way through all situations. If you do this with trust and faith, the Lord can do miracles. You can expect good things but the Lord could very well decide to give you much more because of your love for Him.
If you already attained the gifts, bounty and blessing to an abundant level - good. If you have attained a middle level - good. If you struggle - good. All of this is biblical. Whatever your circumstances are just love Him with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength.
What You Cannot Buy