Powerful Tool

 

The blue-green ocean was all that could be seen for the last week. The reason why she had decided to take this cruise, which is quite common, was a broken heart. She needed a break and a cruise liner seemed like the perfect get away. Escaping from the scenario that surrounded her could help, but the saddened heart would accompany her on this voyage.

She couldn´t have imagined that she would run into a group of people whom she did knew and had been avoiding for the past couple of months. This group came from her church, not that she had lost her faith, but she couldn't agree with some of the messages that were being preached. In the end, it always made her feel guilty. As if everything that was happening to her was punishment. For her, God is love. So, those mixed emotions did not make any sense. Instead of coming out of a service reenergized or relieved, she sometimes came out feeling worse. She had found her faith and love praising through the scriptures and hymns, however, the interpretation given to those scriptures were confusing and demotivating instead of encouraging.

On the cruise, nobody saw the storm approaching. During the night, it really makes a difference because that's when the ship would boost the engines to get to their destination when the sun rose, meaning that the ship rocked a lot. However, that night besides the rocking of the boat, she was awakened by a tremendous idea that she needed to wake up and pray. Pray for the unknown approaching them. Pray for protection and direction because they were going to need it. Fear did not take over and during prayer a sensation of calmness cradled her heart.

Before the sun rose, there was a general message over the loudspeakers for everyone to remain in their cabins until further notice. Breakfast would be served at each door, therefore, there was no need to panic. When she opened her door to get the little breakfast box which looked like it had been prepared for emergencies, she saw some people in the corridor crying and in despair. She knew that this was a calling.

Her cabin was quite large, so she decided to invite some of the people in. The ones who came in were people like her who were traveling alone and did not want to go through this all by themselves. Before they opened their breakfast boxes, she started to pray and thank the Lord for the nutrients that were going to give her strength to go through whatever she needed to go through. Some of the other passengers noticed that she wasn't embarrassed in doing what she was doing and joined her in prayer.

They ate their breakfast and got to go each other. She realized that these people were also from her church. It seemed as if somebody were watching them and as soon as the last person finished his breakfast, there was another announcement on the loudspeaker for everyone to leave their cabins calmly and go up to the main deck. They were to get their life jackets from their closets in their cabins, put them on and go up to the main deck.

The cruise liner was rocking gravely some of those walking down the corridors were being thrown against the walls, however, this group that had been in her cabin walked calmly and did not fall once.

Reaching the main deck, she noticed that the church preacher was sitting in the corner overtaken in a desperate sob. He is only human and is afraid she thought. Out of the blue, she decided to go to the announcement room. Why, she really did not know. The only thought that came to her mind was, Thy will be done. Reaching the office, she asked the employee if she could use the speakers to try to calm people down.

The employee didn't know what to do because she had never been in that situation, but this person seemed to be very calm and relaxed, and the passengers needed this at this moment. The young lady took the microphone and started to pray. She asked to pray in their own ways.  She also asked those who were a bit calmer to embrace those who were in despair and pray for them that they may find comfort in their hearts to face this situation fearlessly.

When she turned off the microphone the captain addressed the passengers and the crew. He started his announcement with the words    ‘ a miracle has taken place’. Everyone stared up at the speakers in an expression of amazement and mental confusion. The captain continued his speech. ‘A miracle has taken place. I can't explain it, but the storm has ended. The meteorologists who were guiding me are perplexed that out of the blue the storm disappeared. Just like that, it stopped’.

Deep down inside she knew that it was the strength of prayer made it all happen. Gratitude filled her spirit. As she walked back to the deck, people started thanking her for what she had done. She just kept repeating ‘ it is not me who you need to think. your prayer was answered. The scriptures say in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them”. This was one verse that she memorized and truly believed.

When she passed by the preacher from her church, he had recognized her, and she noticed he was calm now and happy that the storm had passed. He stopped her and asked her if they could meet later that day. She didn't know why that day because they still had a couple of weeks on the cruise thus, she accepted the invitation.

They met at the coffee shop near the casinos. It was such a beautiful afternoon what happened in the morning sounded like a dream or a lie only those who had gone through it knew it. The preacher had ordered cake and coffee and started questioning her about her leaving the church and how important it was for her to go back. He added that her faith would be stronger if she did. As she listened, she felt this burning sensation in her body. When she opened her mouth to speak, the words that she pronounced did not come from her mind, but from her spirit.

Faith is not connected to a building. It is not only contained within 4 walls. Faith blossoms in the soul. How many people go to a church a synagogue or a mosque and are only holy within that building? How many people go to church and confess their sins but then the minute they are outside those sins are repeated? The only reason you want me to go back to your church is because these people have listened to me and have realized that God is with them all the time and not only within a House of prayer. The only reason you want me to go back to your church is because you want me to preach there, and this story will attract followers resulting in financial gain for you. I am not judging you. For this reason, I have stopped going to your church and as you say your church because I am just money to you. Where was your faith when your flock needed you? Why did you not use the most powerful tool that we have been given which is prayer. You see, I have not been going to your building, but my relationship with God has been strengthening each and every day.

When she looked at the preacher, she could see the tears rolling down his cheeks. She could not remember what she had just said. That moment she put her hand on his shoulder and invited him to join her in a prayer of gratitude.

Lives had been touched.

 

Written : June 5, 2021 ( Based on a dream)

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