It was 1988 and I was 27-years-old. I had just
experienced the death of my paternal Grandfather. I was not dealing well
with his death. I wasn't really angry at God because he died. I was just
sad. Grandpa was a kind caring man. He was a faithful husband who stood
by Grandma even when she developed Alzheimer's disease in 1976. They
stayed in their home until they couldn't manage there anymore. Then they
moved in with my parents.
Early in 1986, a decision was made to put
Grandma in a nursing home, something my Grandpa was trying very hard not
to do. After she was put into the nursing home, Grandpa's health began
to decline. I was hoping he would recover enough to enjoy his life a
little before he died, but that wasn't in God's plans.
One day I was in church, and I sent up a
silent prayer to God. I said "God, if I'm going to get through this,
please give me a baby to hold."
I was sitting in church when a baby was placed
in my lap. The baby sat quietly throughout the church service. At the
end of the service the parent came to get their child. I asked them how
they knew I needed to hold a baby that day. He said, "I didn't but God
did."
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you
will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who
asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the
door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8 NIV)
"Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do
not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig-tree, but also
you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it
will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in
prayer." (Matthew 21:22 NIV)
"Wait for him! People of Zion, who live in
Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious
he will be when you cry for help! As soon as
he hears, he will answer you." (Isaiah 30:19 NIV)
"This is the confidence we have in approaching
God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if
we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what
we asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15 NIV)
God really does answer prayer.
Connie Mohney
Illustrator Subscriber