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How much easier, and safer, her life would be if she didn’t have the thread of prophecy that ran through her soul. After all, she had never asked for the gift—if it was a gift—of knowing things. Given a choice, she wouldn’t have the ability to feel the current of the spiritual realms. She wouldn’t know—as she did now—that somewhere, someone was calling for help.
And she could think of no one whose desperate cries would be laid on her spirit except Addisyn.
Avery closed her eyes and tipped her head back, savoring the glow of the sun on her face.O El Shaddai...I honor You, I worship You, I love You!All her prayers began this way, no matter what else she said to Him. She could never praise Him enough, her Mighty God Who had brought her out of such horrendous darkness. It was a miracle she was even able to know His Name, let alone to live with Him in such a place.I pour out my praise on You, O Glorious One.
She settled deep down into her spirit and sat quietly for a time, bathing her soul in His Presence. Always before she had experienced nothing but peace here. Now her spirit felt an insistent prodding of anxiety. Avery could feel herself begin to sweat. She scooted closer to the tree—out of the direct sun.
El Shaddai, it’s too much. I don’t want to feel anymore.Avery swallowed hard.Take this gift from me, please. I have been through so much pain, so much loneliness. Please, just let me live here in the mountains and be safe.Tears seeped quietly from beneath her closed lids.I can’t help anyone anyway.Her sister’s face floated to her mind—a ghost she couldn’t outrun.Addisyn proved that.
The sense of urgency only grew stronger.
Are you hiding?
It wasn’t an audible voice or a spectacular sign, just a quiet question that appeared in her mind. Avery felt the breath leave her lungs. She drew her knees to her chest and dropped her head onto them, allowing her hair to screen her face.
Hiding. Hadn’t that been what she did all along? She’d buried the horrific wounds of her childhood, rebuilt her soul, run away to the mountains, escaped the deadliness of New York City. But could she ever break the invisible bond that bound her spirit forever with that of her sister—whether she liked it or not?
Her heartbeat felt hard and uneven. She had done her best to scrub Addisyn’s name completely from the pages of her life. For the most part, she had succeeded. But at what cost? Guilt burdened her soul. Hadn’t she just acted out of fear—selfish, self-protective fear?
She hadn’t even prayed for her sister since she came to Estes Park, trying to put as much distance between them as possible, to break that spiritual cord. Oh, why couldn’t she just enjoy The Loch and live her life in the mountains and forget about her younger sister?
Because El Shaddai was asking her to fight.
Once again, Addisyn’s face filled Avery’s mind. This time, she didn’t force the image away but instead allowed her soul to fill with memories of Addisyn—her wild, sparkling younger sister, impetuous, courageous, dazzling. Her sister who didn’t love El Shaddai.
Maybe because Avery had let her go.
Her heart, shredded so many times, trembled at the thought of opening again. But she knew without question that this was her mission. Addisyn needed someone to be praying for her, begging El Shaddai to draw her to Himself, to keep her safe from the enemy’s schemes. Without any further hesitation Avery bowed her head. She was ready to meet with El Shaddai, here on the verge of the crystalline splendor of The Loch, and accept His charge.
O El Shaddai...forgive me. I was so busy telling my sister what to do that I forgot to tell her how much I loved her. How much You love her. I let my fear speak to her, not my love. I told her the right things, but I said them in the wrong way. And then, after she hurt me so badly, I was so busy keeping my heart safe that I locked it away.
Avery wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. This was a holy moment, and even in the midst of her uncertainty, her spirit was stirring. She continued praying, crying out to the Lord, seeking His face. Doing battle for her sister.
Finally, she opened her eyes and looked around. The shadows were seeping farther down the hillsides. It was time to go—but she had just one last request.
And, O El Shaddai...one day...please give me the chance to tell her how sorry I am.
Carefully, she began picking her way down the trail—the section nearest The Loch was muddy from the recent rains. When she made it back to a drier area, she noticed two very amazing things. First of all, she found that instead of growing heavier, the burden was actually lifting. In fact, she felt stronger now—resolute and courageous and able to fight for her sister.
And the second thing was this—a sense of growing excitement, bubbling from deep within her like a secret spring.
Because her intense desire to pray for her sister, her decision to stand in the gap for her spiritual safety, could only mean one thing.
El Shaddai wasn’t finished with Addisyn yet.
