When I Cried God Heard and This is How He Answered

A year ago our family was attending our first homeschool conference as we were gearing up to "officially" start kindergarten with our oldest (yes, we are a weird homeschool family). In human plans our limited knowledge expected to go to said conference, get all the tools we needed to thrive at this massive undertaking and then return home. I had no idea that God's plan was to use this conference as simply a venue to put His power on display.

A year ago our family was entering one of the darkest seasons of ministry and family life that we had ever encountered. Everything we thought we were sure of was rocked and everything we had inappropriately placed our worth in was stripped away. God was requesting us to hand Him even the good things we loved and the valley felt like death. We had been walking this dark road for 7 months, crying out to God and receiving what seemed like no response. It truly felt that God had turned His face away from my tears and shut His ears to my cries. I could not see God working in anything and I felt that my family was in a fiery plane that was careening toward the ground.

It was in this place of crisis that we attended this homeschool conference. As we walked through the doors of the conference and made our way to our chairs we unexpectedly saw face after face of old friends that we had lost contact with over the years. It was like a giant reunion! As the lunch break rolled around we all made a plan to have a giant picnic together to catch up. I listened as friends shared their lives and the current ministry endeavours they were involved in and tears streamed down my face. I could see God at work in their lives one after another and, while I seriously wondered why He had stopped caring about me, I knew that He still existed and hadn't lost control.

Truthfully, the conference itself was seriously lacking and I remember only one of the sessions. But the time spent with those friends was literally a spring of life that I desperately needed in a dry and weary land. I came home assured that God still heard the cries of others and, if that was the case, it was worth continuing to bring my plight to His throne.

Fast forward 365 days and I sit here, hairless, sick and weary and I can truly say that God hears, God sees, God knows and friends, God is at work. During last weeks low I found myself driving back from an appointment just wanting to quit life. I silently thought, "God, I need encouragement. I know you are there but I would love to see you at work again in a tangible way. Maybe that would be a financial encouragement, a relational encouragement, I don't know, but I need something to see you at work." The day was busy but around dinner I finally had time to open my email briefly. As the stream of new mail poured in two caught my eye. One was an unexpected e-transfer of a financial gift to help with medical expenses. The other was a sweet offer of help someone I hardly know who felt lead to make sure I was abundantly comfortable at an upcoming event. Financial and relational encouragement. "Thank you Lord. I'm in awe but not surprised." If there is one thing the last year has taught me it is to ask. While He may see it good to answer in ways you didn't ask for or wouldn't personally see as good He will hear, see, know and answer.

The answer didn't stop there though. Over the course of the next few days I would receive multiple visits from friends and texts of encouragement to keep pressing on. All from people who didn't know just how dark my soul was feeling. A trip to the mailbox would prove to have one more massive answer. A package from the little town of Margaree Valley, Nova Scotia postmarked the day of my last chemo treatment.

Literally a full week before I started to feel so discouraged. I curiously tore it open to find a pile of eleven individual cards and a quick note explaining. Eleven women in Nova Scotia had been told of my story and have been impacted by what God is doing through me. Eleven women I have never met have been praying faithfully for me. Eleven women I don't know love me and wanted to encourage my soul.

Friends this is not coincidence. I have a piece of art in my room showing line after line of God answering prayer. Line after line of intentional work. This is our God. This is what He does.

If you are in a season where God feels silent I urge you not to give up. He hears you, He sees you, He knows you, He will answer. Keep going.