Page 163 of Share with Me

“Yeah. Getting better everyday.”

“Excellent!”

Next thing Ivan knew he was sitting down and half-listening to Sebastian chattering. That guy could talk. Ivan was uncomfortably aware that he was across the circle from Brinley. They could see each other eye to eye.

Brinley didn’t seem to pay him any attention, which bothered him. She was talking to several people—men. That bothered him more. When Tristan Rao stood closer to Brinley—

We broke up.

Ivan tried to keep an “I couldn’t care less” face then on, hiding behind his growing beard that was becoming itchier and itchier by the minute.

Ben Ketteridge began to speak. “Hope everyone had a good week?”

Nods and amens and positive replies went around the room.

Ivan felt that he was the odd one out. It had been a miserable week. His wrist had hurt most at night. OTC pain tablets hadn’t helped much. It didn’t help his wrist, and it didn’t help his life.

He was acutely aware that he was now jobless and penniless.

His elderly grandmother praying quietly with tears streaming down her face reminded him over and over that he was a failure in life.

A failure!

No. I didn’t have a good week.

Ben looked directly at Ivan. “Glad to have Ivan back with us. How’s that wrist?”

At the corner of his eye, he saw Brinley look his way.

“Slow going, but getting better.” It was one of those things. When people asked him how life was, he’d always say, “Fine.” It was an outright lie.

Was his wrist getting better? No idea. Only God knew. And God, the One who had made him and saved him, seemed to be silent right now.

Why, God? Why don’t You heal me right away?

“We will keep you on the prayer list,” Ben said. “These things don’t heal overnight.”

It may never heal.

Ben looked around the room. “Major praise report, people. You remember the heavy rain this week? Pastor Gonzalez’s roof leaked, and the roof almost came down on some sweet ladies from the Women’s Bible Study Group.”

“I was there,” Skye said. “And so was Brinley and Emmeline. We all saw it. Water coming down the wall like sheets. It was crazy.”

Brinley and Emmeline at the same place? Ivan couldn’t imagine what they could have said to each other.

“Not to worry,” Ben continued. “They have a new roof now, and the wall has been repaired.”

“Insurance took care of it?” Matt asked.

“After the deductible.”

“Do they need help with that?” Matt asked again. “We can all give some.”

“No worries. An anonymous donor took care of it. They’re getting their entire house repainted inside and out. God provides. That’s what we’re going to study this morning if we get going here.” Ben opened his Bible. “Turn with me to Philippians 4:19, please.”

Ivan knew the verse by heart. He followed along as Ben read it aloud. “‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’”

Need? Needs?

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