“A Glimpse of Heaven” by Reva Lachica Moore (Written on October 2020)
Have you ever felt so hopeless and helpless; you feel you’ve come to the end of your rope? I heard a preacher say that it can actually be a good place to be. You’re in a situation where you’re at the limit of your endurance; you can no longer handle any problem.
Matthew 5:3 says…“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
It is at the end of your rope where you can detach yourself from all your problems and cry out to the only One who can help you. It is at the end of your rope where you will find God and experience the Kingdom of Heaven in your life.
Psalms 34:18 says…“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” It is when we are broken and feel truly defeated that we need God, and He is there waiting to help us.
Jeremiah 33:3, my favorite Bible promise says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” And so I go to God with a broken and repentant heart, begging Him for deliverance from all my troubles.
“Lord, I’m so tired. I have had enough! I cannot take it anymore!” My son Adam was at the end of his rope. I always thought his problems were not bad compared to those with terminal illnesses, tragedies, going through a divorce, etc. Each time he calls to tell me about his problems at work, I’d try to remind him about the million others who have it worse. “We will always have problems in this world, but we also have God to help us,” I’d say. Although I feel his problems are not bad, to him, they are quite devastating, causing him so much stress.
I reminded him about 1 Corinthians 10:13…“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
“God will allow you to go only through trials of discouragements that you can bear,” I assured him.
He understood that what he was going through was a test of his faith. Yet, after months of frustrations, he had enough. In desperation, he cried out loud, “God, when are You going to answer me? Why do You allow the enemy to attack all the time? I have pleaded. I have cried. I cannot take it anymore!”
In the stillness of the night as he walked to his car from work, he heard the Lord whisper, “If I could just show you even for just a second. If I could just show you a glimpse of what’s waiting for you, you could easily live this life.” Instantly, for a second, Adam envisioned “Heaven” – a wonderful place with no pain, no sorrow, golden streets, No DUST! No dust because Adam hates dust. His house and car are spotless. No dust! I chuckled when he told me about this. He had instant peace. But a week later, he was still stressed. His problems were still there.
The following morning, my son came and asked that we pray together. I reminded him that he cannot just vent out his frustrations. He has to really surrender everything to God with a contrite and broken heart. He has to “let go” his anger and allow Jesus to come into his heart. AGAIN.
I thought he came to ask me to pray. But as soon as we held hands, he started to pray the most beautiful, heartfelt prayer, surrendering all to God. It was a long prayer. He covered everything. After his prayer, he felt peace and I did, too. An hour later, he called to say, “I believe God has answered me. My anger and frustrations are gone.”
Today, my son calls for us to pray together. I usually just listen and agree with him as he prays the most heartfelt prayers that a loving Jesus loves to hear.
John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.