When I was a little girl, our Sunday school teacher told us that everyone had two fathers; a daddy like mine, and the Lord Jesus - a strong, invisible Father who watched over us from far away Heaven.
For years afterward I imagined a vast divide between heaven and earth. Then an unexpected event proved that the Lord in His heaven is closer than I ever imagined.
I was working at a bank as head teller. We arrived an hour early each morning to process the typical avalanche of night deposits. Because most were stuffed with cash, we rushed to finish all transactions and stow excess money in the main vault before unlocking the front doors.
That day I was running behind schedule.
At 9:00am the first customer walked into the lobby. I heard the other tellers chatting with her. I was out of sight in the drive through area, hurriedly strapping cash for the vault.
Then it got eerily quiet.
With my arms full of money I spun around to see what was going on, and nearly slammed into a tall man in a hooded ski jacket and face mask waving a nine millimeter handgun.
He ordered me to lay face down on the floor and screamed at one of my co-workers to collect the huge amount of cash I’d dropped.
Then I felt cold metal against my right temple.
“DO IT NOW or I’ll KILL her!” he roared.
Faces of precious loved ones flew through my mind. I didn’t want to leave them.
Not like this.
“Oh Father, please help us,” I silently prayed, my heart thundering in my chest.
Suddenly a firm but gentle hand rested against my left shoulder. It was soothing, unlike the frantic trembling hand pressing a gun to my head.
“Be still. He’s leaving soon. It will be alright.”
My spirit relaxed when I heard my Heavenly Father’s voice; calm in the midst of chaos.
A few moments later, the robber had what he came for and darted out the door. No one was hurt. Rattled yes, but we survived the ordeal in one piece.
Just as the Lord said we would.
Later on I realized that if it were not for the scariest four minutes of my life, I might never have accepted what many Christians know to be true . When we’re alone, we’re not by ourselves. No matter what, our Heavenly Father is always with us.
The bank robber got away with a bag of cash.
What I received in return was far more precious; irrefutable proof of our Father’s love.
Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Father, thank You for Your constant presence in our lives. Because of Your love, we are never alone. For this and so much more, we praise and honor You. Amen.
