I am one of those people to whom God has spoken. It wasn’t an audible voice, sometimes it wasn’t a voice at all. But it was definitely God. Each time it has been before someone close to me died or got very ill. The first time I remember was in 1991. We were expecting our 5th baby and we found out that the wife of a pastor at another church in town was due at the same time. One night we got a call to pray for this couple. They were running tests because the mom had not felt the baby move all day. While I was praying for her and their baby, all of a sudden I realized I was praying for our baby. God was telling me that our baby was also going to die in the womb and I was praying for God’s protection over her, tears streaming down my face. One month later I went in for a checkup and no heartbeat could be found. An ultrasound confirmed that our little girl had died at 16 weeks. This was in November of 1991. I became pregnant again almost right away and everything went normally. But I remember one night I was rocking in my chair, watching tv, when I heard God say clearly “this one too”. I felt the baby move just then, and started crying. I couldn’t explain to my husband what was wrong…I think he figured it was just hormones. But a few weeks later at another dr visit, there was no heartbeat and a week later our son was stillborn.
Another time a dear friend had liver cancer and we knew she was not going to make it. I had been planning to visit her the next day after church, but felt I should go that afternoon. I talked with her, told her I loved her and said goodbye. On my way home, God told me that I wouldn’t see her again until we met in heaven. Esther died the next day, 10 minutes before I arrived as I had planned to the day before.
I had a another friend who was very close…we were joined at the hip and shared a brain. When she found out she had breast cancer, another friend asked me what I thought. I told her, “I don’t think Mary Jane is going to make it.” But she went through surgery, chemo and radiation and was doing great. About two years later they did a liver biopsy to check a mass on her liver. A few days after the biopsy it was evident there was something terribly wrong and an ambulance was called. As I drove to the hospital, a song came on the radio about wanting to see a friend just one more time. God told me that this was it, she was going to die soon. They found out she was bleeding from the liver because of the biopsy and six weeks later she went to be with the Lord. I love that the Lord used the song, because now everytime I hear it I think of my friend waiting for me in our side by side mansions. (She promised she’d save me one)
A month or so ago, I had been out of sorts all day. My husband and I were driving and I started crying. I just couldn’t stop. When he asked me what was wrong, all I could say was that something horrible was going to happen. I didn’t know who or where or when, but it was going to be bad. About 3 weeks later my sister-in-law, Brian’s sister, went to the dr with headaches and neck pain. She has brain cancer and has a tough fight ahead of her. The news just stunned the entire family….no one had seen it coming.
I know it seems like God only speaks to me before something awful happens and that maybe I should quit trying to listen for Him. But I think He was preparing me each time. I was still sad and grieved, but I knew that this was part of His plan for each of their lives. That helps. I also know that I will see and be with each one of them one day, as they were all either born again Christians or, as in the case of our babies, below the age of accountability. Somedays I get so anxious for that day.
When God speaks….I listen
Advertisement
