The Warm and Fuzzy Side of Angels

~~ Psalm 91:11-14 (NIV84) ~~  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.  “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

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by Carley Cooper

Photo by Carla Cooper
One of many Angels in my collection
All Copyrights Reserved

This is the fourth article in this current series on angels.  In the first post (Angels From Heaven) I talked about how people in our lives can be like angels sent by God to help us.  I shared a poem I wrote to someone special in my life who has been like an angel for me.  In the second post (Who Is Your Guardian Angel?) I talked about how God has given us angels, celestial beings, to protect us; to keep us from  danger.  Sometimes, if we are paying close enough attention, we will even get to see our angels as they’re digging us out of a pit that we got ourselves into!  My friend and author, Paul Duarte, experienced this first hand; literally!  As a Worship Melodies Guest Author, he shared his personal true story of being rescued by an angel from a situation that could have been fatal, on a cold winter day.  In the third post (I Think I Just Saw An Angel) I talked about how God uses angels, of all types, to redirect us and keep us from getting into dangerous situations; or to keep us from wandering into a place that was never in His will for us to be.  I shared my own angel story about an unknown woman who pulled me back when I was about to go ‘over the edge’. 

So other than being our assistants, guides and protectors; are there any other hats that our angels wear?  Yes, our angels can also be sent to comfort us in times of need.  Whether we are depressed, grieving, sad, lonely, or just need some encouragement in a certain situation; our angels are there for us.  When our lives are in a place that’s less than perfect we often have a tendency to believe that we’re alone in the world.  Satan fills our minds with lies and questions that give us doubt and draw us further away from Jesus.  “I’m alone”, “No one loves me”, “I’ve sinned too much for God to forgive me”, “How is it possible that I can go on without my lost loved one?”, “I need a mate; I can’t go on being single”, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?”. 

Every need that we have God can and will fulfill.  He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV84).  When you think you’re alone, you’re not.  When you know you can’t move on; you can and you will.  When you believe that you’ve crossed the line of forgiveness; you haven’t.  When you assume that He doesn’t hear you; He does.  And, He sends our angels to be with us so that they can comfort us and encourage us when we need it the most.  They help us get through the dark, cold tunnel and come out the other end into the warm light.  Just like Satan can whisper lies in our ear; our angels can whisper comforting things in our other ear. 

I had an experience one day that helped me realize this message.  It was in church on a Sunday morning.  At the time of the alter call, I went forward to the prayer rail.  I was going through a very difficult time in my life.  I felt alone and lost.  I saw no hope of light in my future.  I knelt at the prayer rail and talked to God, crying the whole time about my troubles.  Of course, like everyone else kneeling before God at that moment, I wasn’t speaking aloud.  I was praying in my heart to Him. 

As I prayed, I wondered “Does He even heard me at all?” 

Why did this have to hurt so much?  Why does my troubles seem to be going on and on forever with no end in sight?  As in most churches, when people are at the prayer rail, other members of the church family will come forward and stand behind you, with their hands on your shoulders, to pray and support you. 

On this particular Sunday, once the prayer time was over, I stood up wiping my tears, ready to go back to my seat.  The lady who was standing behind me hugged me and then whispered in my ear “I just wanted you to know that there was an angel standing right there in front of you”, as she pointed to the area directly in front of me on the other side of the rail.  “He really does hears your prayers”, she said.

I started to cry again.  How did she know what I was thinking about and praying for?  I hugged her and thanked her for telling me that.  I never asked her if she really saw an angel or if that was just a message of encouragement.  I’ve considered, since then, asking her; but the truth is, I don’t think I want to know.  Either way, God used that angel that I couldn’t see and He used this wonderful woman as another angel to send me a direct answer to my prayers.  I had angels on both sides of me that day and didn’t realize it; one I could see and one I couldn’t.  I thanked God for the fast reply.  Even email doesn’t always get delivered that fast!  Our angels are just like your favorite blanket when you need it; all warm and fuzzy, and an incredible source of comfort.  God handed me my blanket that day.  It kept me warm for a long time.

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~~ Dear God ~~ You are so wonderful Lord.  You never leave us, you make sure our every single need is met.  Every tear I cry, You are there to wipe away.  Whenever I feel lonely or lost, You remind me that I am loved and never forgotten.  Each temper tantrum I have You calm me down and help me see that there are solutions.  You do this for each and every one of Your children, Lord.  Thank  you so much for the warm and fuzzy angels that you give me for warmth and comfort during all these trials.  Help me to never forget these things.  Help me to hear the whispers of my angels more clearly; and help me to block out the lies of the enemy.  In Jesus name;  AMEN.

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