I have just spent a very precious time on the phone to my lovely friend Tom who, as I mentioned last week, has been so ill recently and battling with his addiction to alcohol.

We sobbed our way through the conversation as we talked about what God was doing in him. I told him that God has a perfect plan for his life and that He is a rescuing and freeing God. Through his tears, he agreed.

“Ems,” he said slowly, the Diazepam coursing through his veins and slowing his reactions and voice, “Can I read you something?”
” Of course!” I said. “What is it?”

“The other day I came across my Bible. I haven’t read it for a month and it just opened at this Psalm. I could not believe how relevant it was for me. Can I read it to you please?”

With that, Tom falteringly read the following verses of Psalm 116

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“LORD, save me!”

We were both crying hard as the phone went dead. (His signal is very poor.) I called him back straightaway and read him these verses…

8 For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

I made a deal with Tom. It is this: when he is better (there is no IF in my heart) we will seek God together and write a song based on this psalm. Surely there could be no more powerful testimony of God’s love and faithfulness than this??

I also asked Tom to think about becoming my piano player when I tour the album. He was delighted and quick to accept.

I have no money, no plans and nothing concrete… except a desire to serve God. But Tom is cool with that. He has just been on the brink of death. Anything that says thank you to God is cool with him!

His final words before we prayed together were really wonderful. “Ems, I have really learnt from this. It is so freeing to know how much I need others and God.” (This was the gist of his words any way…)

God, you are faithful to heal and restore. Please heal Tom and help him never again to return to a life of addiction, desperation and anguish. Show him how to rely on You and please turn all that has happened to him into a story for Your glory.

Amen