THE TEARS OF ANGELS AMID THE STRUGGLE

7/28/2020

Does it often seem like our suffering leaves us in a place where we feel totally alone ? Isolated in our struggle, our grief, our challenge. This year has been a tough one for so many people. Life on it’s own can present many challenges, but tossing a pandemic on top of it truly can leave us flattened and down. I have watched so many friends struggle this year. I have seen parents lose their child to the misery of suicide and senseless ending of a life that should just be blossoming. I have watched the bleak financial struggle of friends who have lost jobs and are trying to find a new path. I have watched friends lose a loved one to the ravage of disease, including Covid virus. Our sweet dog of 15 recently passed away, leaving a gigantic hole in our heart, and emptiness in our house. For so many more, this year is a continuation of struggle and suffering for years. Refugee camps, broken homes, abuse, addiction, strife. Suffering has so many faces.

In the midst of looking out on all these experiences, I heard a story that truly gave me hope and peace. It was a reminder that God is with us every day, and that He does see us, and that He does care. Every once in a while, God seems to do something Supernatural to reach our heart and assure us that He loves us. This is a story about Angels. Here we go.

My friend Clay owns a dude ranch in Wyoming. They have owned the ranch for a long time. It is a place for families, fun, and a disconnect from the World. The Bighorn Mountains surround the ranch, giving it a majesty and beauty that only the paintbrush of God could have put on our earthly canvas. The ranch relies on families gathering together to ride horses, share meals, enjoy music and dancing, and just plain have FUN with so many shared activities…and then, the Coronavirus arrives. No large groups, no close contact, no dining hall with long tables, shared food, and delightful conversations. What do you do ? You Re-invent yourself. But will it work ? So one morning Clay and his sweet lab “Jake” take a hike up the north pasture, and my friend finds a place to sit and contemplate all he is facing. Walking up, he noticed he was having raindrops hit his bare arms…but there were no clouds in the sky. Wiping them off, he kept on climbing and finally sat down. Then, the water droplets again….and no clouds. Then that small voice began to resonate in Clay’s ears and heart. “ Clay, can you feel them ? They are tears. My angels are weeping. They see the earth and all that is happening. They see the pestilence, and the struggle. They see my people and their suffering. Know that I love you. This struggle does not come from me. It comes from the evil one, and from the hearts of men who have distanced themselves from me and no longer seek my ways, my grace, and my love. BUT I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, AND I WILL SEE MY PEOPLE THROUGH THIS STORM. Have hope, have peace. I Love my sheep, and I will guide you through this time of suffering, as i will be with all who call MY NAME.” My Angels weep for all who are suffering, but this will pass, for I AM GOD. The ALPHA and the OMEGA. And there were no more tears. Just a true friend and believer and his dog, walking back down the hill and getting back to the task at hand…knowing in his heart, “God has this !”

HE WHO DWELLS IN THE SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL ABIDE IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY. I WILL SAY TO THE LORD, “ MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS, MY GOD IN WHOM I TRUST.” FOR HE WILL DELIVER YOU FROM THE SNARE OF THE FOWLER AND FROM THE DEADLY PESTILENCE. HE WILL COVER YOU WITH HIS PINIONS, AND UNDER HIS WINGS YOU WILL FIND REFUGE, HIS FAITHFULNESS IS A SHIELD AND A BUCKLER. YOU WILL NOT FEAR THE TERROR OF THE NIGHT, NOR THE ARROW THAT FLIES BY DAY. Psalm 9: 1-16

AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US IN WHATEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE ASKED OF HIM. 1 John 5:15

God asks us to have faith in Him and trust everything to Him. Our struggles test us to decide if we can. I am here to tell you that our God is true to His promises in our lives. He is where we all must turn. He is our ROCK. And I can promise you that if you SEEK HIM and ASK HIM for help, strength, and faith, He will provide it. And you will experience rest and peace, knowing that YOU ARE HIS. Covered and loved under HIS WINGS. This is a time for praying and seeking His Word. This is a time for pressing in to God in faith ! When you read His Word, you have to get to a place where you BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH. Words are just words unless in your heart you TRUST THEM.

“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SHIELD; IN HIM MY HEART TRUSTS, AND I AM HELPED; MY HEART EXULTS, AND WITH MY SONG I GIVE THANKS TO HIM” Psalm 28:7

“TRUST IN HIM AT ALL TIMES, OH PEOPLE; POUR OUT YOUR HEART BEFORE HIM; GOD IS A REFUGE FOR US.” Psalm 62:8

“AND THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE TOWARD HIM, THAT IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL HE HEARS US.”

I pray that we may all seek Him and ask Him that He will guide us on the path that His will desires. I pray that we may all find a faith that endures and brings trust and peace. Heaven does look down on us. We are not forgotten ever, and we are able to see and hear and feel the Love of God if we truly try. The beautiful thing about tears is their journey. They may begin with sorrow, but surely, they find their way to JOY ! Find Faith/JAA

“TRUST IN THE LORD FOREVER, FOR THE LORD GOD IS AN EVERLASTING ROCK.” Isaiah 26:4