Sarah arrived on the pastor's...
Illustration
Sarah arrived on the pastor's doorstep in the middle of the night. Sarah hadn't darkened the church door since her Sunday school days, and barely knew the pastor. But Sarah was running for her life. Her husband, drunk again, had taken a loaded rifle and threatened to kill her in front of her children. She managed to get out of the house and run across town.
It was widely known that Sarah's husband routinely beat her. But Sarah denied it, kept the bruises hidden, and the mouths of her children closed. That night, Sarah knew she needed to get out before she or her children were killed.
The pastor took Sarah to a women's shelter, and with the sheriff's help, got Sarah's children safely out of the house. Through legal action, with her pastor beside her, Sarah's children were entrusted to the care of Sarah's parents. Court injunctions were set up to keep Sarah and her children safe.
The pastor moved away about a year later. Some years later, Sarah and the pastor chanced to meet. Over coffee, Sarah made two remarkable comments. She related that on the night of her escape, she was drawn to the pastor's house as if it had a neon light on it saying, "You're safe here." She also said that after living in the total darkness of physical and psychological abuse, it's as if someone finally snapped on a light.
Isaiah prophesied that those living in darkness would see a great light.
It was widely known that Sarah's husband routinely beat her. But Sarah denied it, kept the bruises hidden, and the mouths of her children closed. That night, Sarah knew she needed to get out before she or her children were killed.
The pastor took Sarah to a women's shelter, and with the sheriff's help, got Sarah's children safely out of the house. Through legal action, with her pastor beside her, Sarah's children were entrusted to the care of Sarah's parents. Court injunctions were set up to keep Sarah and her children safe.
The pastor moved away about a year later. Some years later, Sarah and the pastor chanced to meet. Over coffee, Sarah made two remarkable comments. She related that on the night of her escape, she was drawn to the pastor's house as if it had a neon light on it saying, "You're safe here." She also said that after living in the total darkness of physical and psychological abuse, it's as if someone finally snapped on a light.
Isaiah prophesied that those living in darkness would see a great light.
