2020 Advent Devotions
Tuesday, December 8 - Erica Reinfeld
John 20:19-22“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
This bible passage resonates with me in so many ways. I am a pretty upbeat and positive person. I always try to look for the best in different situations I have encountered in my life, as difficult as they may be in that moment. I have experienced many God “showing me” moments, but there is one experience that was so profound I have not been the same since. When I was 21 I lost a very close friend tragically. I had just been married earlier that same year and was living in Pennsylvania, but as soon as I heard the news my husband and I got in the car and made the journey back to Indiana. I had nightmares every night about how my friend had died and couldn’t quite shake the dreams even after I had awoken. This continued every night up until the funeral and a couple of months afterwards. The what ifs and what could I have done thoughts were always there. It was after months of these nightmares that I finally had the dream that would rock me to my core. I surprisingly wasn’t having the same nightmare that had played out so many times before. This time I only saw white as I looked around. I didn’t know exactly where I was, but had a hunch. As I kept looking around, from a distance I saw someone walking towards me. I knew instantly it was my friend I had lost. He was wearing all white and the biggest smile as he walked up and hugged me. His embrace was so strong and real. No words were exchanged but he communicated that he was better than he had ever been. The dream seemed to rewind, so this exchange happened over and over. On the final rewind and hug, my friend pointed over my shoulder and told me “it’s a girl”. My husband and I had only known we were expecting a very short time before this dream occurred. I awoke the next morning lighter than I had felt in months and the worry and what ifs were gone. God had answered my prayers of concern and worry by providing me with this beautiful encounter with my friend. Sometimes we do not believe or are unsure until we “see” and can then rest our weary hearts and minds.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for always loving me and being there for me, especially when I am unsure. Please remind me to be patient, because your timing is always perfect. Amen.
John 20:19-22“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
This bible passage resonates with me in so many ways. I am a pretty upbeat and positive person. I always try to look for the best in different situations I have encountered in my life, as difficult as they may be in that moment. I have experienced many God “showing me” moments, but there is one experience that was so profound I have not been the same since. When I was 21 I lost a very close friend tragically. I had just been married earlier that same year and was living in Pennsylvania, but as soon as I heard the news my husband and I got in the car and made the journey back to Indiana. I had nightmares every night about how my friend had died and couldn’t quite shake the dreams even after I had awoken. This continued every night up until the funeral and a couple of months afterwards. The what ifs and what could I have done thoughts were always there. It was after months of these nightmares that I finally had the dream that would rock me to my core. I surprisingly wasn’t having the same nightmare that had played out so many times before. This time I only saw white as I looked around. I didn’t know exactly where I was, but had a hunch. As I kept looking around, from a distance I saw someone walking towards me. I knew instantly it was my friend I had lost. He was wearing all white and the biggest smile as he walked up and hugged me. His embrace was so strong and real. No words were exchanged but he communicated that he was better than he had ever been. The dream seemed to rewind, so this exchange happened over and over. On the final rewind and hug, my friend pointed over my shoulder and told me “it’s a girl”. My husband and I had only known we were expecting a very short time before this dream occurred. I awoke the next morning lighter than I had felt in months and the worry and what ifs were gone. God had answered my prayers of concern and worry by providing me with this beautiful encounter with my friend. Sometimes we do not believe or are unsure until we “see” and can then rest our weary hearts and minds.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for always loving me and being there for me, especially when I am unsure. Please remind me to be patient, because your timing is always perfect. Amen.