Mar 13 2010
Such a Deadly Peril
By Mugs Manry
“Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”
2 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)
Throughout the years when my sister-in-law was lost in the world of drug addiction, we prayed and called upon our family and church to pray with us. Having faith through dark times was not easy. It was heart wrenching to be so geographically far from the situation with prayer our only option. Yet, God affirmed to me once again that prayer was, and will always be, the most effective option.
My sister-in-law, Tina, has had a hard life of abuse (some caused by others, some chosen by herself). Throughout her life, she would periodically lose herself in a world of sin. Each time, God faithfully delivered her out of it. Many years ago, God miraculously delivered her from drug addiction. For years she was clean and proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ to other addicts.
Unfortunately, Tina began using drugs again following her divorce and her Mama’s death. She was using and dealing crack cocaine and participating in various other illegal activities to fund her habit. She was a mess, knew it, and did not care. She wanted nothing to do with her children, her family, or her God.
I remember a time of prayer in our front room when we prayed with fellow believers for God to lift Tina out of the pit of drug addiction. A fellow believer spoke of God lowering a rope to her. Years later, Tina testified about the answer to those prayers. She knew God had not abandoned her in spite of the fact that she had abandoned Him.
One example of God’s intervention occurred after she had used drugs for four days straight without eating or sleeping. She had been considering whether to find something to eat and a place to lie down or to find some more drugs (which may have killed her). While she sat on the steps of an abandoned building trying to decide, her daughter’s friend drove up and gave Tina a box of chicken.
Tina was in a horrible part of town where this young woman should not be, yet the woman was there with food when Tina needed it most. Tina knew the food was from God, but the drug’s hold on her life was too great, and she did not break free. Eventually, she was arrested, tried and convicted of a felony.
While in prison, God continued to move on her behalf. She entered a cell where a fellow inmate insisted that she pull a Bible verse from a box. Daily, Tina read verses that said, “preach the good news…” “lay hands on the sick…” “go into all the world…”.
Irritated, Tina accused her cellmate of rigging the box. This confused her fellow prisoner. Tina then spoke of the years when she had been an ordained minister to drug addicts and prostitutes. Her cellmate responded, “Praise the Lord! We have been praying for you to get here.” In God’s plan, a prison cell was where Tina needed to be. Thankfully, God’s unfailing love and His unrelenting call once again drew Tina to repentance.
Sometimes, someone we love may be in a pit. We pray and have no idea how God has moved on our loved one’s behalf. We become disheartened and want to give up praying. We foolishly think our prayers are not heard or God’s timing is not right. We cannot see how God is at work. We cannot know the steps needed for our loved one’s deliverance. We cannot rely on ourselves; we must rely on God.
Dear Lord, Some people I love are lost to me. Sin has a great hold on their life and I cannot deliver them. Please send other Christians across their path, and do not let them escape Your unrelenting love. I pray Your mercy and deliverance would save them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Commit to daily prayer for your loved one. Periodically combine your prayer with fasting. Ask fellow Christians to join with you in petitioning the Father for your loved one’s deliverance.
Reflections:
Is anyone too trapped by sin for God to deliver?
Are you willing to walk by faith and not by sight?
Can you forgive your loved one, yet again, for the hurt and shame?
Power Verses:
Psalm 40:2-3 (NIV) “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
2 Corinthians 1:10-11 (NIV) “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”
Good stuff at a good time.
I sit here crying for my oldest son who has been lost to drugs and sin, has denounced God and blames the fact that he was raised in the church as the root of most of his problems. There are times I’m so angry I can’t bring myself to talk to him. And the wasted potential…..
Thanks Mugs for the reminder to never give up.
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Mary and Sherri…You are both mothers praying for lost sons and I will pray with you…May your son’s ears hear, may their eyes see, and may their hearts fully know the great love God has for them.
:angel: Love you Mugs
thanks for sharing this 🙂
Such a timely time…You know soon i’ll be sending out my tribute to God for 15 years of sobriety…24th…God is good all the time, even in our pits when we choose not to see Him
Thanks, Mugs, for all of your love and prayers. And give my thanks to all your friends who prayed as well. You’ve written a beautiful and timely devotion from a very ugly situation. I hope God uses it to touch people’s lives.