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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Achievement (03/08/12)
“… I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you…” – 2 Kings 20:5 (NIV)

I sat across the table from a relatively new friend and immediately saw extreme stress—red-lined, glassy eyes that seemed to be revealing a glimpse of a worn spirit. (I must admit here that I am not always this observant, folks.) Immediately after we ordered our food, she seemed to fighting back tears. I asked her, “What’s wrong?” That was apparently the key to her floodgates; it took quite a few minutes before she could talk through the gushing tears.

That was the first of many times when one or the other of us needed to cry on the other’s shoulder—literally. It was also the first time I consciously felt a clear leading from the Lord to shut up and listen when someone’s eyes are leaking. I still feel that first nudge when Jesus said, “Step aside; let Me work!”

This same thing has often happened in my job as a journalist as I found myself taking notes during an unexpected interview with someone struggling with the deep emotions that come from sudden loss. It’s not my strength or kindness keeping me from crying while they are telling me their story through tears. I don’t have that kind of power; my compassion is never enough.

Jesus, thank You for using me as a scribe in Your amazing achievement plans for broken people. Thanks for Your blood, dripped on dirt, reminding us just how much we matter to You. Thanks for guiding my pen while You minister to their struggling hearts. You know my heart aches for them and my eyes often threaten to drip. Thank You for helping me know—without doubt—that You’re counting their tears and will heal them. Amen.

Nonfiction devotional
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Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
03/15/12
Beautiful and lovely devotional. I enjoyed this so much. Thank you.

God Bless~
Hiram Claudio
03/16/12
Such a beautiful and well written piece ... filled with nuggets of great wisdom and truth. Well done!
Edmond Ng
03/19/12
Taking down notes requires staying alert and tends to keep us from expressing our concern for the other, which may be good at times for detailed information to be jotted down to reach the bigger audience. More often than not, it is our listening ear, caring heart, and our presence that play the important role of being there for the one hurting.

This is a well written devotional. Thank you for sharing this. God bless you abundantly as you serve Him in this area of ministry.

Leola Ogle
03/21/12
A lovely devotion! May we all be sensitive to that "nudging" of the Holy Spirit that you mentioned. God bless!