By Jennifer T. Polzin
jtpolzin@att.net
I love the Lord and trust in Him completely! It does not mean I am always behaving the way I should or being a good example, but I try to live my faith. And I never doubt that He is with me. But sometimes I need a boost! I have been seeking relief for intense feet and ankle pain for about 1 ½ years. I am going to my 3rd type of doctor this week. I am very frustrated, and cannot see an end to this pain. I am the mother of 3 great kids, and married to a wonderful man, Kent, but my life is very busy and crazy, as most of ours are these days. To summarize, I am in pain and pretty stressed!
I was visiting my dad and stepmother in Miami Beach, FL, by myself last weekend. I asked my dad to drop me at the beach for a few hours. He said he’d pick me up for lunch when I called. I love the beach! It is beautiful and there is no doubt that God is glorious when you look out at the water and boats and birds. I was walking barefoot along the surf, enjoying the waves splashing my feet and watching the shells wash up to shore. I started talking to God. At first I was just praising Him for His incredible creation and for guiding my life. Then I started praying for my family and friends. Then I prayed for my pain to go away. I all of a sudden had this idea.
I said, “God, I am not testing you. I know you love me and are with me, but I could really use a sign that I can hold to remind me on my hard days. I promise I am not testing you. If you do not choose to give me a sign, I will still know you love me and are with me. Can you please give me something like a perfect little shell, or a rock shaped like a heart, or anything you choose?” so I kept walking and studying the surf, and kept walking. “Please, God?” Kept walking. “Please, God???” Then something caught my eye. I bent down and could not believe it – The Lord had sent me a rock shaped like a heart! It was amazing! Here is a picture I took with my camera phone.
Well, I was so excited, that I called my good friend and Bible Study leader, and told her the whole story. She was so excited also. But then my doubting Thomas side came out. “Lorri, what if others don’t believe me? What if they don’t believe it looks like a heart?” We agreed that it didn’t matter what others thought. It was my sign from God. So I hung up the phone promising to bring the rock into Bible Study on Tues. As I took another step, I looked down into the surf again, and about fell over! I could almost hear God saying, “Why do you doubt Me?! Well, there is no way anyone can doubt this!”, and I bent down and picked up a second rock, that was the perfect shape of a heart. (Not that the 1st wasn’t!).
The Lord is my Savior and my Protector. He loves me and will heal my feet and ankles in His timing. While I wait, I will hold onto my incredible knowledge that He does hear me when I cry out to Him!
“Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea: hear me and answer me.”
Psalm 55:1-2
Copyright Jennifer T. Polzin
