I just got home from praying over a sweet couple with Randy, Pastor Melly and his wife, Misty. It was such a beautiful way to start the week! As we were talking about God’s goodness and being vulnerable with our spouses, Pastor Melly shared some thoughts from 2 Kings 5 and 6. One passage in particular was a confirmation of an experience I had many years ago that I’ll share with you!
2 Kings 6:15-17 says, “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet (Elisha) answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (Bible gateway passage: 2 Kings 6 – NIV).
On Tuesday, July 20, 1999, I was at work as a Teller at the bank in my small town. I was the only one working with walk-up customers; the manager and assistant manager were both working with customers at their desks. The customer in front of me was taking a little longer than normal, and I noticed the man next in line was getting impatient as he sighed and paced back and forth. As I finished with my customer, he walked up to my window, and I braced myself in case he was angry or unpleasant. He very slowly unwrapped a crumpled up transfer slip as I thought to myself, “Why did you have to crumple it up? It won’t run through my scanner like that!” He slid it across the counter to me. The world came to a standstill as I read the words on the crumpled paper:
This is a robbery. There is a gun. 20s, 50s, & 100s.
For a brief moment, I just stood there frozen, thinking, “Please don’t shoot me. I have little kids at home.” He said to me “No alarms” as I turned to my money drawer and grabbed some bills while also pulling the bait money that set off the alarm. I had recently had a merchant stop in, but I had locked up all of the excess cash in the cart in the back, so my cash drawer held very little cash. I handed it to him and told him it was all I had. He wrapped it up in a plastic wrapper from a case of water and left the bank. I quietly told the customers waiting next to stay where they were while trying to find my voice to call out to Robin, our branch manager. After calling across the room that I was just robbed, everything both stood still and jumped into action at the same time. The branch doors were locked and police were on their way. None of the customers, even the ones with the little baby, were allowed to leave until police had gotten statements from everyone.
The rest of the day was filled with forms to fill out (I jokingly asked where the resignation form was), phone calls with bank security and the FBI, and a ride in the police car (the officer was a friend from high school) to identify the suspect who was caught in a bar down the street trying to pay for a ride to a neighboring town. I remember doing my best to keep things light-hearted, even joking and laughing at times throughout the day. But when I got home, things didn’t feel funny anymore.
The following days were difficult. My mom took me to a nursery nearby to look at plants, but the man behind me in line who was impatient and pacing just like the bank robber, made me feel panicky and I got out of line. All week, the entire scenario played through my mind, over and over and over again.
Sunday morning we went to church. As I sat there waiting for the service to begin, my mind continued to run the scene on repeat. I was getting so tired of seeing it all happen again and again. Suddenly, the scene began to play from a different perspective, and I found myself watching it take place from the top corner of the room. I could see everyone in the room, including me, as the scene unfolded. Only this time, there were two large angels standing guard on each side of me. I remember thinking, “What just happened?”
The message that morning was on Phillipians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I spoke with my pastor afterward and asked, “How do I think on these things when I have something so traumatic running through my mind?” His response has stuck with me ever since. He said, “God gave you a vision to give you comfort. Whenever the scene runs through your mind, turn it to praise.” So powerful!
I bet Elisha’s servant saw all those horses and chariots of fire surrounding them in his mind until the day he died. I still see those angels standing guard beside me. I wish I could print out a picture to show you how majestic and comforting that vision was. I have often pondered that they didn’t stop the robbery from happening. I think it was because I learned so much about God through that trauma. I have shared this story many times to illustrate the faithfulness of God in difficult times. Sometimes people have shared scarier stories that made me feel like mine was nothing to feel traumatized about. However, this I know. It was traumatic for me. But God was right there by my side and never left me alone during or after the robbery and gave me an incredible gift in the vision of angels protecting me.
Whatever you are going through, my friend, God is with you. Psalm 91:11-12 says, “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.” Think on these things.
Jennifer Aufrecht 