Page 14 of Hidden Depths

Even as a haven, Sara had found it difficult to get to church most weeks with too many good excuses to stay away. It was easier to not deal with people. And even though she felt safe here, there was something else. Something heavy rested on her whenever she was here. Every time she came, she felt she was in the presence of God, and that was intimidating.

“You want to come in? Or continue admiring the doors that God put there just for you.”

“Just for me, huh?”

“He didn’t do it for me, that’s for sure. I mean, they’re interesting, but not really my thing.”

“I think they’re there for whoever brought them.”

“I don’t know. God knew you would come here one day, and He needed to find a way to make you stop and take notice.”

“That’s a little far-fetched.”

“If we had a regular door, would we have ever met?”

“Maybe.” But Margaret was right. The doors were the reason she came here. At first, anyway. “But why would God go through all that trouble?”

“Because you’re important to Him. And it’s not really a lot of trouble. Not for the creator of the universe.”

“An interesting way to think of it. Is…is that why you sent me that text this morning?”

“What do you mean?”

“In your text, you said ‘today’s the day.’ I was wondering what you meant.”

Margaret’s mouth bunched together. “What doyouthink I meant?”

“I have no idea. That’s why I came here early this morning, so I could ask you before anyone else turned up.”

“So it meant something to you?”

“I thought it meant something to you.”

Margaret grinned mischievously.

“What?”

“I honestly can’t remember why I said it.”

“Really?”

“My memory’s not what it used to be.”

“It was less than an hour ago.”

“I know. Terrible, isn’t it? I do know that I was thinking of you this morning and hoped to see you here. So, I sent a text to remind you in case you needed prompting. Maybe I just meant today’s the day as in ‘it’s Sunday and church is on.’”

“That’s it?”

“I have no idea. Why, what did you think I meant?”

“I’m dealing with some stuff, and sometimes I feel like you can see right through me.”

“If only. But that’s not up to me. If I ever say anything that opens you up, then it’s most likely not me. That will be God giving me some inspiration. If I did have control over it, that would make my job a whole lot easier. But I think it’s safe to say He wanted you here this morning.”

“That doesn’t make it easier to be here.”

“Oh, sweetie.” She took Sara’s hand. “It’s not meant to be easy. We don’t come here just to feel good. We come here because it makes us better. And that’s what God’s doing with you. He’s using the difficulties in your life to shape you into the person He created you to be.”

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