Free Someone to Trust by Lesa Henderson

Jeremiah scripture home with you and think about it. If you have any questions, try doing what the last portion of that verse says. Call upon God and pray to Him; He will listen to you. Seek Him with your whole heart, and you will find Him.”
    Megan’s heart was stirred. It seemed her doubt about there being a God vanished, but there was still some hesitation as to why God would love her. And, if He truly loved her , why had her childhood been like it was? Could there be a purpose for her childhood and the mess she’d made in her adult life? Was there a purpose, as Cindy proclaimed, to her being in Laurel Ridge? Would this search for meaning ever end?
    Yes. A still small voice whispered to her aching heart. I have the answers you are searching for.
    Megan looked quickly at Lee to see if he had spoken, but his head remained bowed. She shook her head. No, the voice had come from within. She shook her head again, but she was unable to shake the tingling sensation she was feeling. This time it had nothing to do with Lee.
    At the close of the service, people filled the aisles to leave. Many of the children raced outside to play chase in the valley, while their parents mingled and socialized in small circles.
    Somewhere in the process of it all, Lee slipped out, unnoticed by Megan. She couldn’t fathom how a man his size could move that quickly and unobtrusively. Nevertheless, she fully intended on locating him before he left. She must talk to him .
    Megan made her way down the aisle, quickly saying her farewells as she passed a few of the people she had come to know and headed to the front steps of the church. Pastor Dan was shaking hands with the flock as they departed. Momentarily not caring what he thought, Megan blurted, “Did Lee Grainger pass this way?”
    After a quick recovery from his surprise, Dan pointed down the hill toward the gravel parking lot. “He’s headed toward his truck.”
    “Thanks,” Megan gushed and dashed away.
    “Nice to have you here, Megan,” the minister called behind her with a laugh. Megan decided she might need to explain her actions later, lest he think she was interested in Lee on a personal level.
    Megan caught up with Lee, just as he was about to get into his truck. She was out of breath from the speed in which she was attempting to walk down the steep hill and through the gravel lot to where he was parked.
    “Lee,” she called, getting his attention. He paused and turned toward her. Just as Megan reached the bottom of the hill, she stepped on some loose pebbles. Given that she was wearing heels which were not at all conducive to this terrain, she felt her ankle twist, causing her to lose her balance. She landed face first in the dirt at Lee’s feet. Once there, she just lay, motionless.
    “Megan!” Lee called, with concern kneeling over her. “Megan?”
    Still, she lay there. Silently.
    Oh, God, please let the ground open and swallow me up. She moaned. If You care about me the way people say You do, You’ll just allow the ground to swallow me.
    She knew it was a ridiculous prayer, but it made such perfect sense at this moment in time.
    There wasn’t the slightest rumble, or the tiniest groan, issued forth from the earth. There was no movement at all. Except that of gentle hands rolling her over onto her back. She kept her eyes tightly closed.
    Much to her dismay, two huge tears escaped the confines of her tightly closed lids and rolled down her cheeks. Great to add insult to injury, I can’t even stop crying .
    “Megan, are you hurt?” Lee asked anxiously. “Megan, look at me. Are you hurt?”
    She opened her eyes, trying to see him through the cloudiness of tears. “No, I’m not hurt.” She pushed herself up into a sitting position.
    “I’m not hurt,” she repeated.
    “You’re crying,” he stated the obvious, as he checked her legs for broken bones.
    “That’s true,” Megan admitted. “I’m sorry about that. Could you please just help me up, before someone