Heavy Heart

Psalm 80:3 "Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved."

Tonight, I have a heavy heart.  While sitting in Bible study this morning, I received a text from a sweet friend asking me to call her.  I quietly stepped out to fulfill her request.  She began to speak, voice filled with panic and worry, telling me she was talking to a young girl who was scheduled to have an abortion.  I told her I would pray, and would ask others to do the same.  And I did, and others did, and I waited to hear back.

This afternoon, I called to see if she had heard from the young girl.  Sadly, the girl chose to go through with the abortion.  My friend spoke to her for two hours, sharing words of life and love and hope.  She planned to keep the girl on the phone until the time of the scheduled appointment, hoping to have the girl miss the appointment altogether.  But then, the mom called.

This girl's mother told her she needed to have "the procedure" because her life would be ruined otherwise.  She told her lie after lie, and then added, "don't ever tell your father because he will be angry and disappointed with you."  She topped off her lies with shame and guilt, both of which were already being manifested.

I am so proud of my friend, for choosing to dive into this very difficult and painful circumstance with a girl who needed someone to love her unconditionally, someone who would speak truth.  Together we grieved for the decision that was made, and for the damage that has been done to this girl and to her family.  It saddens me that the mother was the one encouraging the girl, the loudest voice of all was speaking death. 

But then, the lost will do that.  As I shared with my friend, this is just the lost being lost, and even more prayers are going to be needed for this family.  The truth always has a way of being revealed.  And it will be, and I suspect there will be devastation in its wake.  Lies, deception, murder, shame, guilt.  Lies that God would not want for his people, does not want for any of his creation.  But the unbeliever does not know that there is more, there is a way that is better. 

As we talked, I watched my child dancing around the room, laughing and smiling.  And my heart purged itself into my throat as I thought of the choice this girl made, the choice her mother threw upon her and the road that lays before her.  My heart is heavy for the child who never had a chance to be (but praise the Lord he or she will be whole and alive in Heaven!), and for the damage that has been done to this family. 

My heart is heavy because Satan is out to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and in moments like this, he succeeds.  But oh thank God, thank God that one day everything will be made right:

Revelation 21:4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Please be in prayer for this girl, and for her family.  The road will be long, and filled with sorrow, but God is able to restore, redeem, and mend.