God's Timing Is Always Perfect

Jim’s physical attack was the last thing I expected.

He was Clayton’s childhood friend and they attended college together. And in recent years, they became business partners.

 Clayton was out of town on business and it was not unusual for Jim to call to check up on me. 

“Hi, Carol. I guess Clay will be home tomorrow and back to the grindstone.”

“I can’t wait. Two weeks is a long time, especially for Seth. Can you believe he is six months old already?”

“Why don’t you stop over tonight? I went duck hunting on the weekend and I’ll give you a duck for Clay’s homecoming dinner tomorrow.”

“Perfect,” I said, “you know how much he likes that.”

Jim chuckled. “Just pop in anytime and I’ll order a pizza for us.”

When I arrived at his house, Jim was his usual good-humored self. We chatted about how big Seth was getting and what a good baby he was. 

“Would you mind if I feed him?” He asked.

After feeding him, Seth fell asleep and Jim quietly laid him in his car seat.

“I’m getting hungry. Should we order pizza now?” I asked him.

We sat on the sofa together within a few feet of Seth’s car seat so I could keep my eye on him in case he woke up.

The Attack

“Carol, “ Jim said in a serious tone, “I think you know that I have always been attracted to you.”

Attracted to me? Where did that come from?

“Clay is a nice guy and all,” Jim blurted, “but he really is a loser.”

Was I hearing Jim right? Could he be joking? I assumed he was kidding. I gave him a puzzled look. “Jim, you’re nuts.”

“I’m serious. I could offer you much more than Clay ever could but if you don’t want to leave him that doesn’t mean we can’t be more than friends.”

“I don’t understand what you think is going on,’” I said, “but there is no way I am now or ever will be interested in you. I think I better leave.”

As I stood up, Jim grabbed my arm and pulled me back onto the sofa.

“Let go of me you jerk.” I tried to keep my voice low so Seth would stay asleep.

Jim’s grip on my arm got tighter. He was well over six feet tall and frequently worked out in the gym.

My heart beat fast and my muscles tightened. I shook with a blend of fear and anger.

What Happened Next...

I screamed and blurted out, “Either you let me go or you’re gonna be sorry.” I had no clue what I meant by that; it seemed the appropriate thing to say.

With an eerie grin, Jim pulled me towards him and said, “We’ll see about that.”

With one of his massive arms, he pushed me onto my back and held me down with his full weight.

Although anger in me grew, I felt helpless. I was no match for this monster. In my spirit, I was asking God for help and knew He was my protector.

“Get off of me!” I screamed.

As Jim was positioning himself on top of me, I quickly drove my knee square into his groin. He let out a loud groan. I knew there would be no way I could have done that in my natural strength.

As Jim clutched himself in agony, with one swoop, I rolled out from under him, picked up my keys from the coffee table, and grabbed the car seat. I opened the front door and ran down the steps toward my car. 

The Escape

I didn’t turn around. “Calm down. Calm down. Hold your hand steady so you can get the key in the ignition.” I spoke out loud to help compose myself.

“Mommy is going to fix your seat in a moment.” I tried to soothe Seth who had stopped crying but seemed agitated.

I placed the car seat in the front but didn’t secure it. I didn’t want to waste one second by checking to see if Jim was coming after me. I continued to talk out loud in the hope Seth would hear my soothing tone.

I drove a couple of blocks and pulled over. Then my fear turned to rage as I realized what I escaped. I took Seth out of his seat and held him close.

“I know you were scared to hear Mommy yell like that. but we’re okay now. Daddy will be home tomorrow. He can’t wait to see you. We love you so much. Everything’s okay.”

During the 30-minute drive home, I had the chance to figure out what to do. Should I tell Clayton? Should I keep quiet? Will I ever be able to be around Jim again?

There. Done. Over. I decided it would remain a secret.

God's Intervention

Seth and I went to pick Clayton up in the morning. From inside the terminal, I could see him approaching but his gait was hurried. I thought that was odd. He was usually stiff on his feet after a long trip.

As he entered the terminal, and I was within hearing distance he blurted, “Jim attacked you. Are you okay?”

“What?” I almost shouted. “Why would you say that?”

I clutched Seth not wanting him to feel any tension. As we got into the car I was in turmoil. Should I deny it? How did he know?

“I was flying from Johannesburg to London last night and sound asleep. I woke up suddenly with an intense burden to pray for you.” Clayton’s voice was unsteady and anxious.

It was becoming clear to me how he knew what happened. I couldn’t deny it. He would know I was lying.

“I didn’t have a clue how or what to pray for but the only means to release this pressure was to pray in the spirit until that burden lifted. After 45 minutes of praying this way, I felt the release.”

Clayton continued as I stared straight ahead fighting back the tears and trying to stay composed.

“Then I asked God to show me what I was praying about,” Clayton said, “In my spirit, God showed me what happened to you. Immediately fear overwhelmed me. But I knew I had authority over that fear so I rebuked it in Jesus’ name and it lifted. Then I fell back to sleep.”

“Just like that?” I asked.

“Just like that.”

I never doubted God’s love for me. But at this precise moment, I sensed God wrapping me in His arms. Just like I had comforted and protected Seth, God sheltered me, His daughter.

God's Timing Is Perfect

I sat quiet, puzzled but at the same time relieved. My secret had been revealed. I had to share my side of the story.

As I recounted what happened the night before, Clayton’s face grew tense and serious. His reaction concerned me; I am a peacemaker by nature. I didn’t want this to destroy their friendship.

We figured out that at the very moment Jim was attacking me, Clayton was in prayer. He was somewhere between Johannesburg and London. I was in Minnesota.

Time zones do not matter. God’s timing is always perfect.

“Please don’t say anything to Jim,” I begged Clayton, “I don’t want to come between you guys and you have to work with him.”

Clayton reluctantly agreed but the friendship was never the same.

When it came time to cut business ties, the relationship ended. 

The night of the incident, I felt weak, helpless, and in danger. But Romans 8:26 says “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” The literal Greek translation adds the words ‘in articulate speech.’ In other words, with understanding.

When we find ourselves in circumstances and do not know how to pray, we have the assurance that the Holy Spirit knows exactly what is happening when we allow Him to pray through us.

We may feel a heaviness regarding our children or loved ones. Similar to Clayton, the Lord will bring someone to our mind that we know intimately or barely know. These are times when we need to exercise the gift of praying in the spirit to receive the answer. God gives us the assurance in our spirit that He interceded and answered our prayer.

This reassurance comes when the burden lifts and often is replaced with joy. 

According to 1 Corinthians 14:15, we have the right to ask God for the interpretation of what we have prayed in the spirit. It states: “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.”