BY By Joyce Williams
The shrill ringing of the telephone jerked me awake. I glanced at the illuminated clock by the bed as I clumsily groped for the phone. 11 P.M.
“Hello?” Christy’s soft voice penetrated my sleepy fog. Our granddaughter had been going through a very difficult time and was in another stage of heartbreak. I listened carefully. Knowing what a morning person I am and that
I’m notorious for fading out early in the evening, Christy first apologized for waking me. She didn’t even realize that her grandpa was out of town and that I was home alone.
She said, “I’ve been reading Job, and I have a question about a certain passage. Could you tell me what it means?” Then she began to read Job 11:14-19. I was wide awake now, and I began to quote those precious and familiar
words along with her there in the dark. Could I ever begin to tell her about the wonderful promise in those words! I exclaimed, “Christy! Exactly ten years ago God gave that very same passage to me—just when I needed it most!
This is awesome. Now He’s giving it to you! Let me tell you from the other side of the promise what it’s meant in my life.” So I began my story.
On a hot summer day in 1990, I was driving home to Roanoke, Virginia from a meeting in Richmond. My marriage of more than 26 years had ended, and my life was torn apart with grief, rejection, and uncertainty. As I drove along,
it occurred to me that for the first time in my life I was going to have to spend the night by myself. For whatever reason, I was terrified to think of being alone in our big house. Fear clutched my heart as I cried out to the Lord,
I can’t do this! Would You please help me? I believe those are some of God’s favorite words to hear from us!
I had been listening to a Christian radio station as I approached Lynchburg, Virginia. When a particular song ended, the announcer said, “I have a Scripture for someone who really needs it.” And he began to read from Job 11:
“If you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only
as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make
you afraid” (Job 11:14-19).
As I heard the beautiful promises, I felt the paralyzing fear leave my body. I could almost visualize the anxieties disappearing through the roof of my car. Waves of healing and hope flooded through my soul, and tears of joy
streamed down my face as I pulled over to the side of the road. In that metal cathedral, I felt God’s love and kindness wrap around me as never before. And it was a complete healing. As I climbed into bed that night, all fear was
gone. I spent that night, and many other nights since, alone with absolutely no fear. I reminded Christy that a few months later, the Lord reinstated His call on my life to full-time ministry. I was amazed. In the midst of my
rejection, God said He wanted me! Through an incredible series of events, He led me to Clearwater, Florida, to be on staff at a church there.
A year and a half after I went to Clearwater, Brian Arner, a wonderful, talented singer and member of the church, introduced me to Christy’s grandpa, who was pastoring a church in Wichita, Kansas. His dear wife of many years
had died very suddenly more than a year before. After a long distance courtship and whirlwind romance, we were married in September 1992, and I moved to Wichita.
Immediately I inherited a wonderful extended family, including Christy and 12 other grandchildren. (I’ve told Gene I would have married him just for those grandkids!) God has continued to open incredible doors of blessing and
opportunity for me in speaking, writing, and other ministries. In January 1998 Gene resigned after 47 years of pastoring, and we began Shepherds’ Fold Ministries for ministerial families. Also, we both have worked on special
assignments with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and have had many, many other wonderful opportunities.
I said, “Christy, Honey, you have no idea what God has planned for your life. You’re just on the threshold. All I can say is that when God gave Job 11 to me a decade ago. I would not have dared to ask Him for all that He has
done for me. Surely I have forgotten my troubles. I can barely remember them, and my life is brighter than dawn. Our security comes in the hope of Jesus.”
And I reminded her of the deep valley through which Job was walking when God gave that promise to him so long ago. We quickly agreed that none of our troubles compared with Job’s. “Yet,” I reminded her, “Job has a chapter 42.
Verse 12 says, “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” With absolute confidence, I said, “You can make it. God’s promises are still good today. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or where you are.
It’s where you go from here that’s important. Just stay focused on the Lord, and He’ll get you through. The sun will shine for you once again. I can tell you for sure—because I’ve been there. The promise given to Job still works
today. Read the end of the book!”
Then I prayed with Christy, said good night, and hung up the phone. Although Gene was away from home, I was neither alone nor afraid. As I lay there in the dark basking in the light of the Son, I drifted off to sleep thanking Him for chapter 42!
Taken from My Faith Still Holds by Joyce Williams, © 2004 by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. Reprinted from Women Alive! magazine (www.womenaliveministries@com) with permission.
