I love hearing stories about people having out of the ordinary encounters with God. It really inspires my faith. I heard a story like this yesterday, and wanted to share a little of it here.

I interviewed a pastor, Michelle Warren, who as a very young Christian went on a Mission trip to Sao Paulo in Brazil. She was excited to see the power of the Holy Spirit.

During the trip, Michelle became ill with a fever. She was so weak during one of the meetings that she collapsed. Back in her hotel room, she was praying. As she did, the presence of God entered the room, and the place was flooded with the most brilliant, radiant light. As she tried to describe this light yesterday, she found it hard to find the words. She said it was beyond natural light. More brilliant, more white, supernatural is the best way to describe it, she said. And it filled up the whole room, every corner. Michelle knew she was in the presence of God.

As she stared into this radiant light, God spoke to her audibly, the only time He has spoken to her in this way.

He said to her that He wanted her to go and minister that night, in the balcony area of the church where the meetings were being held.

Being feverish and weak, Michelle began to question God.

‘But I can barely stand, Lord,’ she said. ‘Let alone minister.’

As she said this, the presence of God retreated, the light eventually dissipating.

Feeling convicted about “arguing with God” as she described it, she knew what she had to do. Michelle described the way she literally crawled to the elevator that night as she was so weak.

At the church, the worship was alive and God’s presence very tangible. Michelle was so weak, but by faith she stood up to take part. As she did, the Holy Spirit came upon her and she was healed instantly. All the symptoms that had weakened her body, left.

That in itself is so awesome to me. But there is more to the story

Feeling strong again, Michelle went to the balcony of the church as God had said. There were around two hundred people there. As she stood there, various doubts came into her mind: these people did not seem as hungry for God as those downstairs, and had she really heard from God anyway, she was young as a Christian after all, she thought, and she didn’t even speak Portuguese to pray with these people.

As she turned to leave, she described one of the most profound experiences she has had with God. As her eyes swept across the crowd, it’s as if God opened her spiritual eyes to see these people in the way that He Himself did.

There was no longer a crowd of two hundred, but two hundred individuals.

Instead of faces, and expressions, she saw their hearts and their hurts.

‘I love these people,’ she felt Jesus say to her heart, she was overcome by His compassion. ‘Pray for these people.’

And she did.

Twelve hours later the people were still there in that balcony. She heard from a senior pastor at a prayer meeting the following morning how the congregation there had been glued to their seats as the Holy Spirit moved powerfully, healing people, and ministering to people.

I was so in awe of God as I heard this story! And so inspired by Michelle’s faith, and the way that she did what God asked no matter how ill she felt, and no matter the doubts that set in along the way.

God had a big purpose, and He sought her to be His servant to those people He so dearly loved that evening, a servant through which His Holy Spirit would minister. Amazing! The things God can do through a willing heart, a heart that is sensitive to His prompting!

And His compassion. I think that is what got to me most as I heard this story. The way Jesus knows us of each by name, the very hairs of our head numbered by Him Matt.10:30, and that His heart is heavy with our burdens and pain. The heart of Jesus, “acquainted with grief” Is.53:3, the One Who has “borne our pains and carried our sorrows” Is.53:4. I love these people, He said to Michelle that day. And it’s as if He is saying the same thing to each of us today. I love you. My heart is “gracious and full of compassion” and “tender mercies” towards you Ps.145:8;9. I love you. “Come boldly to the throne of grace” Heb.4:16.