16 — EL ROI: THE GOD WHO SEES
Songs for the Chapter: THE GOD WHO SEES, by Nicole C. Mullen and Kathie Lee Gifford (please try your best to listen) and
LOVE NEVER FAILS by Jonathan Butler and Juanita Bynum
Yes, I have so many favourites, but this one in particular is one I love to go to over and over again.
And please try the first song as you read this chapter... hopefully to set the mood by GOD'S Grace and end with the second. ❤️
•••••••••••
"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: But the wicked shall fall into mischief."
~ Proverbs 24:16 KJV
"God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform...
...Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face..."
•••••••••••
Isabella knew she could not see Violet that night after finding out about the loss her friend had suffered.
Yet, she lay on the bed tossing, sleep eluding her.
What was it Violet had once told her? She tried to remember.
"There is a space in everyone's heart that only GOD can fill."
Yes! Those were the words. And she felt she could not wait any longer.
She could not wait till Violet recovered from the pain of her loss. She needed CHRIST at that very moment.
And if what Violet said was true, GOD would listen to her despite not knowing the right words to say or anyone to lead her.
~~~
Vincenzo could not help but feel anxious. He had signed the papers that their Royal status demanded to make the marriage of his sister official.
Yet, he felt no peace about it. Something gnawed at him, but, there was no going back.
He heard a knock at his office door, for he had remained there most of the evening into the night—even after delivering the unpleasant news.
Glancing at his Patek Philippe Grandmaster watch, he wondered who it could be at that late hour.
"Accedere (Enter)," he replied, feeling drained and weary.
He saw his personal aide and assistant, Eliseo, appear.
"It must be urgent if you have come at this late hour," Vincenzo sipped from the cup of tea in his hand.
"Pardon me, Principe. But, the now late King Maker, Tal, left a note for you," he fidgeted, something he rarely did.
"And?"
"It's regarding his sister, and I thought you should see it before anyone else," he finally looked Vincenzo in the eyes. "It has something to do with you too, Principe."
~~~
"I gave YOU all I had... and YOU have taken away more than I can bear. Now, I don't have Tal, and I don't even have YOU anymore," her soft voice broke as she spoke.
Tears trickled down her face and she angrily wiped them off. She thought she could cry no more, but, it seemed her torrents were yet to dry up.
Looking into the sky for the last time, she allowed herself to slide down the cliff with a big leap.
~~~
"Dear JESUS, I know YOU can hear me. I believe YOU can and are. I also know I have sinned and done many wrong things," she wept quietly. "Please forgive me. I need YOU in my life. I don't even know how to ask."
Her soft weeping turned into violent sobs.
"JESUS, please save me and wash me in YOUR Cleansing Blood Violet talks so much about..."
Violet, yes, she had to pray for her friend too.
"And, I know Violet must be in so much pain right now. I read from YOUR WORD that YOU healed the sick. Surely, YOU can heal the heart too, right? Please, don't forsake her in these trying times. Please, dear JESUS, please save Violet..."
~~~
Violet had not known what to expect. Probably a free fall and the pain that would finally end her existence.
But... what was she feeling and hearing?
She thought she heard a muffled sound that seemed to echo from way beyond her, "Please, save Violet."
And that was when the rest of the memorised Psalm came back to her... especially particular parts of the Psalm.
"Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?..." she recalled another part.
"And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings."
"Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?"
Free falling, arms extended high, feeling the wind hurling her down with the force of gravity, she suddenly felt strong arms embrace her.
The arms felt so—loving. And they seemed to hoist her back up.
It happened in the twinkling of an eye.
And before she knew it, she felt her feet on solid ground in a safer spot—no bruises or pain felt from her leap.
Is this real? Am I still alive? Or is this the afterlife? She wondered with eyes still shut, amazed, yet petrified.
Whimpering, she opened her tear-stained eyes to see the Loving warmth radiating from the eyes of her HEAVENLY FATHER HIMSELF. Yes, she was still alive. And HE was still holding her.
"Child," HE said so softly. "All may forsake you, but, I will not."
"FATHER, YOU allowed my innocence to be stolen and now," she bowed her head down low, shoulders still trembling. "I don't think I am even worthy to be called YOUR child. I am so filthy."
"I know it all. And remember, child," HIS every Word permeated all the places that had been destroyed in her aching heart and being.
They felt like a healing balm pouring into her injuries.
"I was with you when it all happened, telling him to stop. It was not MY Will to have you go through that, yet, I will use it all for MY Glory."
He gently touched and lifted her chin upwards.
"And know this... you are loved by ME. And nothing and no one can ever take that away."
HE wiped the tears off her face and embraced her once more. And with that, HE was gone.
Yet, Violet could feel HIS Presence with her. The pain was not completely gone, but, she now faced it with her SAVIOUR by her side.
Though she did not understand why it had happened, she knew she had no other choice but to trust HIM.
"Though HE slay me, yet will I trust in HIM..." she whispered to herself. "LORD, I am YOURS. Even if YOU tear me to shreds. I put my trust in YOU. For only YOU can break and yet, make whole again."
She felt HIS warmth envelop her further—if that was even possible.
"I trust YOU; THE GOD WHO SEES."
And with HIS blessed Presence beside her, she knew she had to return to the battlefield—the Ferrari Villa.
This time her brother was not with her as she approached, and that hurt so much.
But, she told herself, ONE even greater than Tal is with me.
~~~
Vincenzo grew pale still staring at the signed document in his hands that validated it as official—without need for argument or contestation.
The Royal seal on it marked it as irrevocable and immutable.
Worse? He did not understand how he felt about it. Why did a part of him feel glad about the news?
He had often found himself in that state of uncertainty since that girl had entered their household.
"Now I can't refer to her as just that girl, can I?" He muttered to himself.
~~~
Violet felt like a bandaged, stitched-up wounded soldier who refused to sit still and recuperate as she returned to the battlefield—aka the Ferrari's household.
There were many broken shards to be picked up, many scars yet to heal, and many battles to be fought.
For she knew the enemy had gained a foothold during her apathy and sorrow. The marriage agreements between Giuseppe and Ginevra were already signed and set.
Her only hope? She was not alone.
Tal had left her, but thankfully, her GOD had not.
No one knew nor could understand the weight of pain she had to endure.
But, GOD knows, she thought to herself, a small smile played at her lips. Albeit, different from how she had smiled before.
It was a smile of one who had seen true hurt and pain, yet had risen again. Not by her might nor by her power, but by HIS HOLY SPIRIT.
She knew she would not be the same Violet again. But, she was trusting GOD to reshape her into who HE wanted her to be.
And that conviction was tested when she reached the Villa and heard the news that was in store for her—a will her brother had thought "wise" to leave behind.
And its contents? Something that rocked her off her equilibrium.
Awaiting her was a whole new turn to her already shaky world—marrying Prince Vincenzo Klaus Ferrari.
•••••••••••
Love Never Fails: by Jona Butler ❤
Whew. That sure has not been an easy sequence. :|
So sorry if the chapter was a bit short. But, by GOD'S Grace, I knew it had to be posted to calm some hearts.
Kindly let me know your thoughts. What were you expecting Tal's will to be? And... were you shocked by it?
I know I am.
GOD'S Love,
Phela ❤️