Denna is willing to speak further on this topic and will prayerfully consider speaking engagements starting September 2018.
“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:7-8
Listening in a gap between two trees to a waterfall’s rhythmical echoes of time and space leaves me satisfied. Deeply. The musical language of waterfalls must have started in Paradise. Imagine Eve attending the continual symphony of cascading blues and silver.
Waterfalls are rare in the Sandhills of North central Nebraska where I live. The water is underground, brought up to water the cattle and grasslands by windmills. The windmill of God’s grace has been bringing up some life-giving water in my life.
I lived in Ohio for my middle school years, a shy, quiet girl. Unwanted attention came my way, and I was sexually harassed by a male teacher repeatedly for three years. I never considered opening my mouth to ask this person to stop or to tell my godly parents. A cork of fear kept my voice bottled inside.
I had no idea those awkward and embarrassing years were still affecting me years later when I found myself unable to speak truth or even share a personal testimony of God’s goodness as a Pastor’s Wife living in an isolated context. Courage to speak out was dormant in my life. However the waterfall of God’s grace can flow through even the most stagnant of ponds.
I met one-on-one with an older lady** who travels to counsel trainees. She listened to my story and then told it back to me in third person. We went to prayer asking Jesus to heal my pain. At the end of my prayer, I felt my voice literally being uncorked and a song cascaded forth as I belted out, “I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice, to worship You.”
This shy gal was ready to praise the Healer and new courage started flowing. My first waterfall moment came when my husband asked me to share my testimony with our dear church family. Sandhills Church of Hope is ‘one church in two locations’ in rural and small-town Nebraska. I shared at both services and couldn’t believe the ladies who were touched. Waterfalls of grace feed other waterfalls.
In time, God has brought special closure to me and continues to awaken new areas of courage this shy girl never knew was in her. I realize anew the waterfall of His grace is always running fresh in our lives.
Harassment: to irritate or torment persistently; to wear out; exhaust; to impede and exhaust (an enemy) by repeated attacks or raids. (The American Heritage Dictionary: Second College Edition)
*Sexual harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. (taken from a Google definition)
**Marilyn Damron (along with her husband Gary) continue to serve the Lord in their ‘golden years’ as they travel and counsel hurting people. I, Denna, can personally recommend her little booklet, ‘A practical guide to the Caring for the Heart Ministries model of Prayer.’
WaterFALL Application: As a girl, I would pick out a single drop of water at the top of a waterfall and keep my eye on it until it landed below. Something about that drop making it to refreshing coolness thrilled me. I’m that one drop; you too?
Feel. A numbness of emotion can occur when a person repeatedly endures someone wronging them. It’s a natural safeguard but when prolonged, it’s dangerous. Ask the Lord to help you feel (once again) simple beauties – the sound of a classical symphony; the beauty of a flower; the sight of the stars at night. All things lovely that originate with Creator-God. “The Lord is my Light.” Psalm 27:1a
Allow God to take care of those who have wronged you. “When evildoers assail me…it is they who stumble and fall.” Psalm 27:2 Pray for justice. ‘May Your justice roll down on like a river!” (Amos 5:24a)
Let out fear. God’s waterfall of grace is strong enough to break through our Hoover Dams constructed on fear. Let me be a lie-breaker to you and testify that God can take your fear-filled baggage in stunning ways that won’t hurt.
For me, it was a letter. I remember the stars that night as we pulled up to our rural mailbox. My husband handed me a letter with no return address.
I read,
“Dear Denna, Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1b-3a) From: Jesus.
I fell into my husband’s arms crying, “What’s God doing?” He lovingly determined to break through my Hoover Dam. You too?
Let healing in. I know it sounds impossible; that you might rather run than relish His embrace- but He is an expert Healer.
Let God’s healing in as you would let in the best thing you can imagine.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20a
Prayer:
“I will extol you, O Lord, for You have drawn me up and have not let rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me.” Ps 30:1-2
