A Prayer for Deliverance, Part 2
It was Saturday, Deborah’s first birthday. Ruth had continued with her prayer for deliverance all week, but God was silent.
The morning of Deborah’s birthday was busy. A big celebration was planned for Deborah. Ruth’s parents and church family were beginning to arrive for the big birthday celebration. Ruth was happy for her daughter, but Ruth's spirit was consumed with other worries. The smile on her face was not genuine, but no one knew what troubles raged within Ruth's soul.
The party began outside, in the gazebo, with a prayer from her pastor. Light music played in the background and the weather couldn’t be any nicer. The warm breeze felt welcoming to Ruth and her guests. There was a beautiful sugar maple tree in the backyard that gave shade and a wooden swing hang from one of its old, but strong branches.
Ruth stood at a distance and was observing everyone at the party. Ruth’s parents, Jeremiah and Luisa, were enjoying themselves in conversation, her church friends sat under the shade, while singing beautiful church songs, and her little Deborah lay asleep in her stroller. Even Phillip seemed to enjoy himself with family and friends.
Ruth observed Phillip from the distance. How interesting that she knew this man so very well. He could be hurtful and violent one minute and change his behavior in an instant. She felt disgusted at his counterfeit spirit.
Ruth felt hopeless in the life that lay before her. The life that consumed her very existence. She had been waiting for God to deliver her from this horrible life, but He had not come through for her. Ruth felt a great disappointment in waiting for God to act on her petition.
The party had ended way into the afternoon. She said good-bye to all her friends and family. Good-byes were never easy when it came to her family, but her parents had a good drive ahead of them.
When the evening came, Phillip had received a phone call from a dear friend, named Mark. He had invited Phillip and Ruth to a special dinner that very evening.
Ruth was exhausted from the day’s event as she sat in her rocking chair by the living room window and she refused to go.
Phillip was set on them going. She knew where this evening was heading to if she refused, but she was tired of it all and she didn’t care what Phillip would do to her.
She stood up to leave to her room, when out of nowhere, Phillip took ahold of her, shook her shoulders and commanded her to go with him. She pushed him away. He yanked her hair and twisted her wrist. The pain on her wrist was excruciating. It felt like it was breaking.
Then, Phillip said three words in her ear. Three words she would never forget.
“I hate you,” he said, in a deep growling voice.
Then, Phillip threw her on the floor.
Unbeknownst to them, Jeremiah, Ruth’s father was standing at the door and hearing her daughter scream, he moved towards the open window. He was in complete shock at what his eyes were seeing. His daughter was on the floor and Phillip was telling Ruth that he hated her.
When Jeremiah and his wife, Luisa had left the party earlier in the day, Jeremiah had felt a great discomfort in his spirit. He didn’t know what it was, but he felt that something was wrong with his daughter and Phillip. Now, he knew that God had placed that uneasiness in his spirit so that he could return to rescue his daughter, Ruth.
Jeremiah removed the screen from the window and fumbled to get through. As he clumsily ran towards Ruth, Phillip was in disbelief that his father-in-law had seen him do this to Ruth. Phillip ran out the back door towards the apple orchard that surrounded the back of the house.
Jeremiah knelt by his daughter and held her in his embrace. He held her tight as they both cried; Ruth from relief that help had arrived and Jeremiah out of sadness for his daughter.
Note from author:
Many of my sisters that walk in the path of domestic violence do not get an opportunity to leave, to survive. Many are murdered in the process or have felt hopelessness and have committed suicide in order to escape.
Did you know?
Did you know that 1 out of 4 women will commit suicide in order to escape their situation of abuse?
Domestic Violence shelters have reported that as many as 23% of domestic violence survivors have attempted suicide?
Sister, don’t stay silent.
Seek help!
Let someone know what you are going through.
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline- 1-800-799-7233
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~ Cesiah~