Divine Appointments

                                                             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.