Abiding in the Presence
Poem★★★★Jacqueline was an elderly woman who lived to take care of her daughter, who was wheelchair bound. When her daughter died, Jacqueline not only lost her purpose for living, she lost her living companion.
Her cottage in the country seemed as empty as an eggshell. Occasionally a friend would call or a note would arrive, but most of her time was spent in oppressive, ongoing solitude.
Her health didn’t allow her to circulate very much, and her best friends were now all in heaven. One day Jacqueline’s Bible opened to Philippians 4:5 and four words struck her forcibly: “The Lord is near.”
If so, thought Jacqueline, I should be more aware of it. “Lord,” she said, “I’m going to pretend you’re here all the time.
No, forgive me for using that word; there is no pretending to be done. I’m going to use my God- given imagination to visualize how very present You really are. Help me ever remind myself of the reality of Your nearness.” That evening as she retired, she said, “I’m going on to bed now, Lord.
Will You please watch over me as I sleep!” The next morning on awakening, she said, “Good morning, Lord. This is the day You have made.” Sitting down with her hot tea, she read through the book of Philippians again, underlining verse 5, then she prayed aloud for a very long time.
At noon, she said, “Now, Lord, let’s watch the news on television, so you can show me things in this world I can pray for.” Jacqueline and the Lord watched the news together, then she prayed for flood victims in the Delta, a newly-installed president in an African country, and for a man sentenced to life imprisonment.
At supper, she bowed her head and thanked the Lord for her food, but she didn’t feel her prayers were traveling up to heaven. She felt instead she was talking to someone sitting across the table from her. Gradually her attitude was transformed. The loneliness lessened, her joy in- creased, her fears diminished, and she never afterwards felt she was alone in the house.
Jacqueline was learning how to abide in the Presence.
The point
An elderly widow discovers the reality of God's presence through intentional meditation on Philippians 4:5, transforming her solitude into intimate companionship with Christ and finding joy in prayer.