Genesis 32: 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Blessings family,
I want to start off by apologizing for taking so long to write this. I know I should have shared more, but I want to tell you what I went through and why I struggled to send anything out.
I was angry. I did not know Det. Echaverry personally, but shortly after his passing it impacted me. I prayed so intently for him to survive, to be a miracle for all to see, and when it didn’t happen, it filled me with doubt and anger. Let me explain why. Many years ago, when I was navigating my walk, I met an amazing chief by the name of Mark Overton. He shared his love for Jesus and it moved me. I saw that an officer could be bold in their faith. I felt led to connect him with one of our chaplains, and a dear friend, Pastor Robert Fountain, and this connection eventually birthed our Miami-Dade FCPO. Years later, Chief Overton collapsed and was in the hospital. I went with another friend and we prayed over him. God gave me the following words to share with him: You are healed. He eventually passed and I was angry with God. I kept asking, God, why would you take him away when we have so much work to do?
Several years later, a colleague I had been ministering to, Larry, collapsed at work. I couldn’t find him in the station and when I did, they were doing CPR on him in the gym. I grabbed his head, spoke to him and prayed, begging God to not take him. We rushed him to the ER and I was with his son when the doctors called it. Why Lord? So many were praying. We needed a miracle!
Then, Cesar. This time, I knew of many amazing people that went and prayed over him, including his family. I had an opportunity with a couple of friends to pray over Cesar. I saw the brokenness in so many, and I pleaded with God to heal him. Father, please let these officers see how You answer prayers. But God took him.
I felt like my prayers were not being heard. I was filled with doubt and anger. I went to the gym and God and I had it out. I worked through my frustration until I could sit still enough to hear Him. With Mark and Larry, lives were impacted and many grew in or accepted Jesus. And I know the same is happening with Cesar. He is in the arms of Jesus. He is going from glory to glory. I am still sad, but pushing through knowing that through this tragedy many will see miracles. Not the one I had been praying for, but miracles nonetheless.
Humbled to serve,
Jorge
If you want to make love known, you must love the way He loves you ~ Jorge Alessandri
I am a small piece of a broken mirror reflecting something Great. ~ Jorge Alessandri