The Hole

I felt sleepiness taking control of my tired body, as I was praying, "Lord, fan the flames in my heart for You..." Nearing the door that led to dream land, I felt a sudden stirring in my spirit, that roused me. I felt an urgency to pray. To pray for someone. To pray about something. That I didn't know. I became antsy. To the point that I felt a surge of creepiness. Of like an impending doom in a spiritual realm.

"Lord, help me..."

Until something was recalled in my memory. It happened at work last night. Few hours after I arrived and preparing to volunteer to pull the medications from that million-dollar worth machine that would prepare all the inmates' medications for the morning and noontime doses, I received that call. There was a female inmate complaining of chest pain. "Send her down," I uttered, as I pulled out my own stethoscope from my transparent bag.
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She sat there quietly. Reviewing her medical chart, I read she had some mental health issue. She was placed on suicide watch before. But there was no record of any cardiac related problem. Her vital signs were normal. She admitted to a history of anxiety. Despite feeling the certainty that she wasn't having a heart attack, I made her lay down on the exam table and explained that I needed to do an EKG. A thin curtain divided us from the sharp observation of the Clinic Deputy to give her a little privacy. There it was. An eerie stare from her that followed my every moves. Stare that didn't scare me. But penetrated my spirit feeling that she was in deep trouble. That there was another source of this chest pain. The EKG reading came back normal.

I motioned for her to go back to the waiting area. Contemplating on whether I was going to violate some personal zones, I decided to ask her anyway through the thick glass partition window:

"Why are your eyes red? Like you just cried? Is there something bothering you?"

I asked her already those questions during my initial assessment. To which she denied. Except this time, coupled with that weird stare, she looked at me directly in the eyes and answered, "Yes."

"Another cellie [inmate sharing cell with her]?"

"No, Ma'am."

"Custody?"


She shook her head "no."

"Well then, how can I help you? Because you don't have true heart problems. What's eating in your heart is what's causing your pains," I explained.

She avoided my direct eye contact this time. Softly, she whispered, "I'll be okay, Ma'am." Then, she requested for her yellow pass so she could go back to her unit. Back to the hole that was making her anxious and stressed out every time.

Realizing I needed to pray for this woman, despite the whole day that had passed by, I did. I felt better after asking the Lord to intervene for whatever needs or problems she was going through. The impending doom sensation was replaced with calmness. And 2 Timothy 1:6 suddenly flashed in my mind. I didn't know what it was. So, I got up and took my Bible:

"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you."

Here, Paul was encouraging Timothy to persevere as he was ordained to start a ministry. He received special gifts of the Spirit to make him be able to serve the church. He didn't need to obtain new gifts. He just needed to hang on to the truth and to use those gifts to step boldly in faith and share the Good News.

Like Timothy, we are all given different gifts by the Spirit. May we be all sensitive to the needs of others around us and be able to share His gift of salvation boldly. God will enable us and strengthen us only if we are willing to be His instruments in bringing the Good News to those who are still lost. May we be that sturdy kind of ropes that God sends down to those who have fallen and remain to be in a hole. Like when we used to be...

14 comments:

  1. Rosel thank you for sharing. Yes Lord Fan The Flame. Blessings. Awesome post. Love the encouragement between the disciples.

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  2. Thank you rosel for sharing this with us. A very powerful video. God bless, Lloyd

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  3. Once again you have touched my heart. Thank you

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  4. Joining you in prayer for this women who needs our Heavenly Father's touch so desperately.

    Blessings, hugs, and prayers,
    andrea

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  5. Yes she does need our prayers. Thank you for sharing.

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  6. Lots of hurting people that need our prayers. Thank you for sharing!

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  7. Rosel,

    Just reading this post made me want to pray for this lady. How wounded and hurt her soul must ache for the freedom it longs to seek by asking God's healing in her soul and releasing her to be free and eternally saved in His kingdom.


    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  8. Oh my ... it is so hard for me to fathom the terrible burdens of some people. I've had a few of my own, but nothing to equal this lady's.

    When I think of fanning flames, I also remember how vital it is to keep the embers safe in order to have something to fan. How dear and precious are our hearts to the Lord, and His residence within them.

    Bless you!
    Kathleen

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  9. Rosel, I've heard the story of the man who fell in a hole before . But the video made it come alive. Thanks, ~Ron

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  10. "This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you."

    Your posts always speak directly to me Rosel. I sure miss coming by. I love the way you reached out to this lady. Perhaps God will give you another opportunity and He will touch her heart.

    I hope all is well for you my friend!

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  11. When the Spirit moves, He really moves. It's an amazing and wodnerful thing to be a part of that. When we are in need we can know someone will pray for us and the Lord will comfort us.
    Blessings to you,
    Lyn

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  12. Powerful message Rosel...I had to stop and pray as well. Love and blessings to you dear sister.

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