Divine Appointments
I had not been in the county jail
to conduct “church services” for a month. I had not been in the women’s prison
facility for two months. Every week, something prevented me from entry. I was discouraged
and questioning the “calling” I felt God had placed on my heart. Once again, I
stood at the jail desk waiting to find out if they were going to let me in this
week; the women had just gone on “lock down”. I silently prayed, “Lord, please
make a way for me to get in this week.” The C.O. (Corrections Officer) approached
me and said they were ready to escort me back. I got to the women’s unit and was
told I could not go in due to lockdown, but I could visit in PC (protective
custody) instead. The C.O. continued to speak, “Only two women wanted church,
so you can see those two.” My heart sank. A month ago, Carrie (an inmate from
another housing unit) had asked me for some verses to encourage her through a
situation. I had been carrying those for a month but was unable to see her. Last
time I was in PC, one woman kept interrupting “Jesus eats people” and another shouting
“the antichrist changed the Bible, you can’t believe it.” I prayed silently as
I entered the narrow hall with cells crowded together in PC. Honestly, I wished
I had not come today. I entered a bare cell with just a metal bed frame, the
two ladies sitting on the bed; the toilet in the corner covered in saran wrap. The
C.O. carried in a chair for me. I introduced myself and asked their names.
Another woman (an inmate) came into the room, “Kathleen, I’m so glad you came.”
I knew her from a recovery group at the church. I had heard she was back in jail
but never saw her in the unit; it made sense now. She had been in PC. “I didn’t
tell them to bring me church because I thought it was the Jehovah Witnesses
again,” she stated. I began to share from the Word the God in the book of
Matthew. Within minutes, one woman interrupted me. “Listen, I should have been
killed several times in the last few weeks. I was in a car accident; I was high
and should have died.” She proceeded to share other events in which her life
was spared, all occurring within a relatively short amount of time. “I know it
is because if I died, I would go to hell.” She continued, “I’m sorry for
interrupting, but I need to know before you go, how do I find God?”
I began
to share with her how God sent his son Jesus to die for our sins. The C.O.
standing watch at the cell door was called over the radio. I looked at the C.O.
and asked if I needed to leave. The C.O. stated, “No, continue.” The C.O.
stated over the radio that she was unable to come unlock the door at this time.
In that tiny cell, I shared the gospel message with these women. They all said the
prayer to accept Christ into their lives. I thanked the C.O. for allowing me to
finish ministering to the women before responding to the radio call to go unlock
the door. After the C.O. unlocked the door, I asked, “Could I possibly see
Carrie before I leave? I know she is on lockdown. She asked me for verses over
a month ago.” The C.O. went and got Carrie. She allowed me to share with Carrie in the hallway before I was escorted out.
I knew
God had intervened today. He had put me exactly where He wanted me to be in the
moment. These ladies had a divine encounter with the Almighty God. What was initially
a discouragement and detour for me was a divine appointment from God.
I wonder
how often in our lives we miss divine appointments from God because they seem
like a detour to our plans. God, teach me to sit in the moment and follow your
lead today. I don’t want to miss the Holy Spirit’s leading and your glory.
