Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
Each Sunday, she closed her eyes, trying to gather her nerve to answer
the call—and each Sunday she failed to do it. She sat trembling, knowing
she was unworthy, knowing that after all she had said against God, she had
no right to be his child.
On the fourth Sunday, Susanna leaned close and whispered, “You want
to go forward, don’t you? You’ve wanted to for weeks.”
Eyes stinging, throat closed tight, Angel nodded once and hung her
head, her lips pressed together. She was afraid, so afraid she was shaking.
What right had she to present herself to God and receive mercy? What
right?
“I’ll walk with you,” Susanna said and took her hand firmly.
It was the longest walk of Angel’s life as she went down the aisle and
faced the pastor waiting at the end of it. He was smiling, his eyes shining.
She thought of Michael and felt a rush of anguish. Oh, Michael, I wish you
were here with me now. I wish you were here to see this. Will you ever know you
struck the match and brought light into my darkness? Her heart filled with gratitude.
Oh, God, he loves you so.
She didn’t cry. She had years of practice containing her emotions, and
she wouldn’t give in to them now before all these people, not even with
Susanna Axle at her side. She could feel the eyes of everyone in the church
upon her, watching her every move, listening for any catch in her voice. She
mustn’t make a fool of herself.
“Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God?” the
pastor asked her.
“I believe,” she said with grave dignity and closed her eyes briefly. Oh,
God, forgive my unbelief. Make my faith larger than a mustard seed, Jesus. Let it
grow. Please.
“And do you give your life to Jesus now before these witnesses? If so,
would you signify by saying I do?”
Words meant for a wedding ceremony. A sad smile touched her lips.
With Michael she had said “Why not” rather than “I do”; she had come to
the end of her endurance and felt she had no choice. She felt that now. She
had come to the end of her struggles, the end of her fight to survive on her
own. She needed God. She wanted him. He had brought her out of her old
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