I think I’ve realized (definitely not to the fullest) just
how much we miss out when we think we don’t need to depend on God. A beautiful
thing that I have witnessed around the world is a desperation for God like I’ve
never seen in my life. I’ve seen people in great need, usually because of
poverty and even many who choose abandonment, who choose to be in a place of
utter dependency because they know that’s what’s best. They cry out to God when they are sick, when they are hungry,
when they are broken because they have nothing else to turn to. And the Lord
shows up. Miracles happen.
Maybe it was years of watching Touched By An Angel that did
it to me, but I’ve always leaned toward thinking that miracles were cheesy,
cliché, and unrealistic.
Wrong.
God wants us to depend on him. He wants us to look past the
illusion of control and independence that creates pride and the desire to be
self-sufficient. He wants us to come to him with everything.
Our second day here in El Salvador I witnessed a miracle.
I’ve been on cloud nine since arriving here at the children’s home. I love
everything about this place- nine beautiful girls, six lively boys, staff that
love you like their own children, Tio Bob, and countless other “family members�
that come in and out of the home. On the morning of our second day, Tia Suyapa
(one of the aunts that cares for the children) was sick and had completely lost
her voice. I had walked past her several times and offered my condolences on
her illness, but otherwise I was occupied with preparations for the beach trip
that day. I walked by her once more and thought- shoot, I should just pray for her. Usually I only think to
pray when someone is really really sick, but I’m working on putting into
practice this belief that God cares about every aspect of our lives, even lost
voices. So I asked her if I could pray for her, and she eagerly led me into the
storage room to find some quiet (there’s that desperation I was telling you
about). I prayed something simple since Tia Suyapa couldn’t understand any of
my English, just asking for her health to be restored. We hugged and started to
head out the door, when Suyapa said loud and clear “Gracia a Dios!�- “Thanks to
God!� We both looked at each other a little shocked and then started cheering
and hugging, rejoicing in the miracle of her restored voice.
I’ve never seen instantaneous healing like that. God is so
good. He does care for us deeply and he absolutely wants us to cry out to him
for everything.
(Side note: The perks of
allowing the Lord to use you in people’s lives… especially ones working in the
kitchen… extra cheese on your food and an abundance of mangos with chili. I
love this lady!)
The fabulous Tia Suyapa…
