One of my earliest memories of youth group is hearing our youth minister tell us in no uncertain terms that “when you become a Christian, life doesn’t automatically become easier.” In fact, he used to say with conviction, it often gets harder.
I always used to wonder, “but isn’t that obvious, since life in and of itself is usually hard?”
Now, as I grow older, I realize that what he said was very true. When I became a Christian, my life changed. I had new responsibilities to myself, I had to make more time for reading my Bible and praying regularly. I felt (although this may not be true) like I had a higher moral code to live up to.
And yet, slowly I began seeing how all of my worries, fears, and stress dissolved when I thrust them upon God; the limitless help God offers became known to me, at least partially.
I saw my life through different eyes. Situations turning out for the better, after all of my anxiety about them…were my prayers and the prayers of others able to be so effective? People coming into my life at a time when (although I did not know this) I needed them most. Similarly, people leaving my life at what seemed like the wrong time, and then my later understanding that I had done all I could for them.
When I was a child, sleep evaded me. I hated it and tried every measure I could think of to push it from my life. Why would I want to sleep? What if I missed something important? I also frequently experienced terrible nightmares, so when I was young I was afraid to sleep.
To relax me and coax me into sleeping, my mom would tell me that God sent angels to watch over me each night, and they took turns making sure I was safe. She elaborated about how they looked, talked, everything; then when my dad came in to tuck me in, he and I would say a prayer for all of the “angels” in my life.
I’ve always found it amusing to wonder if some of the people in my life are angels sent to help me through. As I write this, I see how incredibly egotistical I sound, but readers please, bear with me a little longer.
Perhaps it’s just the wonder of God working in my life through people that instilled this notion in my head. Maybe I just like to play Author and give specific purposes to all of the characters in the story of my life. But I have to wonder if those that have helped me the most are really just human beings, like everybody else, or if they are something more.
Life has become hard recently. I thank God that I forwent trying to keep my problems to myself; I immediately told my closest friends and asked them to pray. I utilized every medium possible for this task- phone, Faceboook, texting, and actual face-to-face conversation. The latter has helped me the most. I recently told a few friends about my problem, and as I was standing on the sidewalk, listening to their encouragement and insight, tears discovered that they could flow through my eyes quite easily. These, and all of the others who helped me so far, were my angels. I took notice of how they looked, talked, everything; for a moment, they were there just for me, and I knew that this feeling of complete comfort and safety would not pass. The lyrics of “Lean on Me” rang in my mind, and I felt the burdens of life melt from my shoulders.
Days later, when I am beyond the emotional overflow that I experienced that night, I look back and see how completely God’s presence was in that situation. The Lord had (has) done great things for me, and I am filled with joy. Third Day writes accurately that “I caught a glimpse of Your splendor/ In the corner of my eye/ The most beautiful thing I've ever seen/ And it was like a flash of lightning/ Reflected off the sky/ And I know I'll never be the same…”
Whether they really are angels, or simply wonderful human beings, I do not know. Perhaps Helen Keller is right, saying that “when we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.” A close friend once told me that “life isn’t for the faint of heart,” and I know this to be true. But I would also add that life isn’t meant to be endured alone. We need God, and we need those He sends to help us. Life may not become easier when one becomes a Christian, but I know that it opens doors that were otherwise impossible to breach.
And so this is my prayer for the angels in my life: that they realize how important they are in my life, and in the lives of others; that they never lose sight of God and the comfort he provides; and finally, that they ask for help when they need it, so they can experience the feeling of blessed relief that I have.
