For as long as I can remember, my Grandma Clara, “Nona” prayed for her youngest sister Linda. Nona’s prayer journals were filled with Linda’s name, faithfully asking God’s grace to be on the life of her sister. My grandma died of cancer in 2008 without Linda ever accepting Christ.

Last Monday I fearfully walked myself into the Critical Care Unit of a Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Before going any further with this story, I want to back up and explain how I got there.

This past May our teammate Michal Paul Leek got a last minute phone call to speak at a church in Florida. He asked Aaron if we could fill in since we were already in town. The girls were sick, so Aaron went to this church alone. Two months later we received a call from the same church asking us to come back for their missions month…September 25th. We happened to already have bookings in Florida during that time, so we accepted. God is His incredible grace booked this church the day before I would find myself in a critical care unit…15 minutes away.

“She’s going in for emergency surgery in an hour. It’s good you are here. We aren’t sure how long she has.” The nurse says as she leaves the room. I didn’t answer, my eyes locked on a woman that so strikingly resembled my grandma that I was in a loss for words…in a loss for breath. Linda. Her feeble, 90-pound, cancer-filled body, with more tubes and pumps than plausible, lying before me, alone. I prayed silently. I reached my hand to hers and said, “Aunt Linda, it is Stephanie, Clara’s granddaughter.” Her cold hand squeezes mine and she gathers all her strength to nod with such urgency that tears filled my eyes. She could hear me. She knew who I was. “I know you can’t speak, but I’m here, I’m staying. You aren’t alone.” She squeezes my hand tighter and nods again as I ask her “Can I pray with you?” I spent the next hour trading off in prayer and reading Scripture. I prayed for comfort, peace, healing, and I read and prayed through the gospel. I told Linda about memories I had of her and my grandma. I shared how I have heard her name spoken by her sister in prayer more times than I can count. “Oh, how she loved her baby sister.” This precious hour flew by and was spent mostly in tears.

“Linda, you are going in for surgery. I know you are scared.” I whispered. What happened in that next moment I will never fail to remember. With more strength than it seemed she could give, she nodded her head and grasped my hand when I asked her, “Linda, did you pray with me to accept Christ as your Savior?” Yes! In His beautiful and marvelous grace, three years after my grandma entered the gates of heaven, OUR gracious Heavenly Father answered her earthly prayers for Linda’s salvation.

We serve a God who hears our prayers and who answers our prayers…often in ways and in timing that we would never expect. Linda and I both got to share a glimpse of that miraculous grace and mercy of our Lord that day. Maybe Nona even got a glimpse of that moment as well. :)

-Linda remains in the Critical Care Unit. We are getting daily updates.

Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.