Awakening: The Deep Sleep (The Deep Sleep Trilogy Book 1) (3 page)

Surprised, she pulled her hand back and sat for some while trying to comprehend what was happening. Beloved wondered if she were just imagining what
she felt, and reached up to touch the rock again. Once more, she felt the strong current of power flow into her hand, down her arm and into her heart.

All at once, she thought she recognized the source of the power she felt and whispered, “Jesus?” Yes, she was sure it was Him. In any form, she could recognize His presence. Beloved threw herself on the Rock, embracing it with all her might, and tears began to flow freely.

“Jesus,” she cried. “Oh, how I needed You!”

She poured out her heart for some time until she felt Him speak to her spirit.

“Dear one,” He said, “you were running through fields of grace and I had to stop you. I didn’t want you to miss it.”

“Miss it, Jesus? Miss what?”

“Precious Beloved, the field of grace you’ve been running through is one of the most powerful forces in My kingdom. I couldn’t let you continue to run through it and miss the treasures it held.”

“Treasures, Lord?”

“My grace holds a vast wealth of treasure that cannot be rushed through. You must walk in My rest to enjoy it all – trusting Me with your burdens. As you walk through it, you enjoy Me and I you, letting grace have its complete work in you.”

“Do you understand now?” He asked.

“Only that I need to take it easy and not rush Your work in me. Is that it?”

“AND that you
enjoy
it. It is here to be savored.
I love to watch you enjoy what I made for you
.”

“But... I just left...” she tried to interrupt Him and tell Him of the burdens in her heart.

“I know, dear one, about the burdens you carry. But know that first they were Mine and if I had not wished it, they would not be yours now. You’ve grown so much, Beloved, and I am extremely proud of you, but you have more to learn. You are strong enough now to carry the load I’ve given you, but only with My help. We’ll have fun carrying it together. It’s a work for us to share.”

Beloved heaved a huge sigh of relief. She felt His peace flood her, enabling her heart to enjoy time spent with Him. Soaking in His peace and the release she felt, she was overwhelmed by the Lord as He captivated her heart.

And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name — you...

—Deuteronomy 16:11 NIV

IN HER ENCOUNTER
with the Lord, Beloved learned to yield to His wishes for her and to enjoy the fields of grace. She walked more slowly now and took pleasure in her journey, letting the wheat brush against her as she moved through it. Captivated by the fresh, earthy aromas of the field, she was warmed by the sun’s rays reflecting on the golden crop.

As she enjoyed the fields, they were having their intended affect on Beloved, just as the Lord anticipated. Little by little, she was being restored by grace. The worry and fear, pain and disappointment, all her
bitter feelings were being swept away with every step in God’s treasured fields of grace. Much more at ease now, her spirit seemed to feel and see with a keener sensitivity than it had in the past.

Thinking she was alone, her thoughts flooded her mind. Suddenly she looked ahead in the fields and saw several laborers. Beloved was so excited to see laborers working in the fields of grace.

She knew they must have been there all the while, but she could not see them. Now, with the eyes of her spirit renewed and refreshed by the grace that sustained her, she watched them intently.

They were lucent, spirit-like people, as if they were in another dimension. As Beloved watched them openly, they did not seem to notice her at all and continued to work vigorously in the fields.

Beloved stood marveling at their work, but noticed they were dreadfully tired, and some seemed close to exhaustion. Their fatigued demeanor seemed out of place in such a peaceful place. She felt deeply burdened as she watched them work faithfully, almost methodically, gathering the harvest.

As she stared, almost mesmerized by the workers, she felt jarred by the sense of someone watching her from behind. Turning quickly to see who it was, she
marveled when she saw an impressive man dressed in royal attire.

Catching her eyes in his, he greeted her as though he knew her. “Beloved,” he said as he smiled with delight.

“Hello, sir,” she answered, and then asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m following the laborers through the fields to hunt for the treasure they’ve left behind.”

Beloved was quiet for a while. She could not understand how he would come to work in the fields dressed like a king. Then, a sudden thought sprang to her mind, “Could he be the man I’ve heard of?” She questioned him, “Are you the treasure hunter, sir?”

The question seemed to delight him and he laughed a cheerful, hearty laugh. As he reached down into the mud and dirt of the field, he asked, “Well, Beloved, do you think I have found treasure?”

He was holding a woman’s arm and gently pulled her closer to stand near him. Beloved was truly puzzled because she had not seen the woman at all, though she’d passed right by where the woman lay.

Earnestly, he continued with his questioning and asked her again, “Is
she
treasure, Beloved?”

Beloved was simply shocked by what she saw and stood almost paralyzed. She realized she knew the
woman, who was a prostitute who lived in Beloved’s hometown. Beloved remembered her to be a forgotten person whose life was riddled with a heavy burden of shame, never experiencing even the simplest of joys that most people take for granted. She was someone Beloved had prayed for but out of fear had not actually talked to.

Without waiting for Beloved’s answer, he asked her another question. “What about this one, Beloved. Is
he
treasure?”

She suddenly saw a man standing at his side just as the woman had – she knew him, as well. He was a man she’d met when traveling with friends. They had picked him up and given him a ride. She remembered him to be extremely careworn and burdened by life. Beloved had tried to witness to him and wanted to lead him to the Lord, but felt she had failed him.

“Yes!” she cried out in surprise.

When she had last seen him, she had been very young and was neither bold nor strong. She had missed him in the field as well, but the treasure hunter found him.

Beloved was all at once flooded with feelings of shock and relief, but the treasure hunter wasn’t done yet. “Watch, Beloved,” he said.

Then he drew both the man and the woman into himself, holding each of them close in his arms. Pulling
them into himself, he buried their heads in his chest. He held them there for some time and then released them to reveal them to her.

They were beautiful! He had restored them! The woman was very pretty and the man was full of life. The cares of their past lives had been lifted and grace and love were set in place.

She looked at the treasure hunter again with fresh eyes and suddenly realized who he was. “Jesus!” she exclaimed.

He had promised to journey with her, and had followed the burdens of her heart, searching to relieve them. He had made even the smallest gesture she’d attempted, a prayer or small offering, seem like a great work with enormous results.

“Beloved,” He said as He reached out and grabbed her hand, “I have one more thing for you...”

Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.

—Revelation 19:7 NLT

AS THE TREASURE HUNTER
held her hand, a vision unfolded before her eyes…

She saw an elaborately adorned room in an extremely luxurious eastern-styled palace. Ornate carpets covered the floors, lovely ornamental tapestries hung on the walls and large, embroidered satin pillows covered the carpet around a magnificent golden table, richly laden with wonderfully bountiful foods of all varieties.

At one end of the table, she saw a man and a woman dressed to equal the splendor of the palace. The
gentleman, as rich in his spirit as he was in his attire, was sitting on the pillows awaiting a great feast.

At first, Beloved thought the man was very pleased as he sat awaiting the banquet. But then she saw that, although he was delighted in the feast, the occasion and his apparent opulence, something seemed to trouble him.

His attention was not on the banquet or the room. His full concentration was entirely engaged in the very beautiful woman who seemed to be asleep by his side.

Lying on a sea of pillows near her cherished mate, she was breathtaking in her loveliness. Dressed like a queen in richly adorned frocks, she supported a heavy, golden crown atop her splendid auburn hair. Her bridegroom tried desperately to awaken her, but she remained asleep.

The brilliant pair were meant to celebrate their wedding day with a glorious feast, and he anticipated her awakening. He had long dreamt of sharing this day with her and shook her gently to arouse her from her sleep.

He surveyed the table intently, checking to see that every detail was secured to her liking. Each time he did, it heightened his anticipated joy in her enjoyment of the luxurious banquet they were to share.

The man leaned down and gazed at his beautiful bride. He rested his head on a pillow near her face
and smiled. Drinking in her beauty, he tried again to awaken her, but she remained asleep, unable to shake off her slumber.

He decided to gather her in his arms and, holding her against his side, he held her up in an attempt to reveal the glorious wedding feast to her, hoping to dispel her repose. He waved his hand out over the table set before them and whispered, “Darling, our table is ready. All of this is for you, dearest. Please awaken, my love.”

His cherished bride tried so hard to stir herself awake but, although she would open her eyes for a short time, her sleep remained. She was soon fast asleep reclining again on the pillows as she had before.

Disappointed, but unrelenting, her bridegroom continued to try to revive her to show her the wedding feast in her honor…

Deeply moved by the vision she had seen and with her hand still held in His, Beloved looked up into Jesus’ eyes and, muffling an empathetic cry, she asked Him, “She is Your sleeping bride, isn’t she?”

Reassuring her with His gentle smile, He answered. “Yes, Beloved, she is My bride.” He continued, “We are waiting for you. Take care and finish your journey.”

Matching His assuring smile with her own, Beloved turned back to the fields and continued on, but with renewed and even greater purpose.

He had filled her with such fervency and tenacity, it increased her strength … she felt stronger than she had ever felt before. The longer she journeyed, the more she could sense His life flowing through her. She was beginning to realize who she was and her destiny in Him.

Beloved was determined she would not fail Him.