A Blanket of Comfort
Finding peace and comfort in desperate circumstances 
by Barbara T. Marshall

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Wow, August 23, 2008! What a day! I will remember this beautifully anointed day for the rest of my life.  Yet, I cannot help but share in the grief of the situation also.  It was as if
God's Holy Spirit was spreading a blanket of comfort throughout it all.

I began that day delivering a forty-minute message to the youth.  Shortly thereafter, I began preparing for my next message, which would be to a group of Spanish-speaking adults with the assistance of a translator. Sitting next to me was Petra; the wife of a church leader and mother of eight children. I noticed her gentle face was so very pale, and that she needed to be assisted by two people, one on each side of her, just to walk from one place to another.

This loving woman was about sixty years old, and was so very ill, that it became obvious she had come to say good-bye to her family and friends.  Yet, her graceful manner would soon put us all at ease, as we were about to witness a manifestation of God's love.  She was going to read a letter that she had written to the church before my message on Wrestling with God.  She had written her letter in Spanish, so I asked if she could translate it for me before the service started.

Four years ago, she had been diagnosed with breast-cancer. Eventually it was considered to be "cured".  Unfortunately, it had come back and was now terminal.  That morning, Petra shared with me that she had trusted more in the medications, at one point during her illness, than she had in God Almighty.  She then reached a time where she was able to give Him complete control and was at peace.

As the service began, her husband Wilbert, and my translator, Rosalba, who loved Petra dearly, held her up at the podium so that she could share her heartfelt letter.  She finished, took her seat, and many, including Petra's husband, were crying.  As I took my turn to speak, my heart swelled full of emotion and love for this beautiful woman of God.  I knew that God was present and that He wanted those present to be encouraged, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

I  began my message on Wrestling with God, and asked,"How often do we put God in the rescue boat while we continue to steer the ship ourselves?"  The text message was from Matthew 5:13, where Jesus says: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."  I included the passage in  1 Timothy 4:14-16, when Paul admonishes us to use our spiritual gifts and not neglect them, especially in difficult circumstances.  We are to persevere in painful times, pay attention to those around us, and in this way, be a shining light to others.

During the end of the message my outline changed as I know the Holy Spirit was leading.  I looked at Petra and let her know that she did not neglect her gifts.  That even in this most painful time, as she had grown in her faith, she was teaching others, not just in her way, but in God's way to endure and persevere.  She had learned to not put God in the rescue boat but let Him steer the ship. She was that Light that Jesus was
talking about sitting on top of a hill for all to see His illuminating Light through her.

Petra was quiet and at peace listening; her husband Wilbert had tears rolling down his cheeks. Walking out of that room that day I knew this had been God's timing for this
message.   I knew that it was an anointed morning as God continued to spread His Spirit of Peace and Comfort.

I still get choked up sharing this story, it was so beautiful.  I am so humbled to have the privilege to be part of a service where God was present and in complete control.  Where He encouraged and strengthened us all. Praise God for His goodness and for filling all of our needs.