Moments with Meryl
by Meryl Langley

Well, it was Thursday, 14 January. I was thinking about our daughter, Joanna Nearly seven months ago, I arrived home from work to find her now saying goodbye. She had turned her back on her family, the fellowship, and ultimately, on God. She had left home.

As I headed toward the bus stop, I saw the young girl I had seen there each morning now for about a week. She was about Jo’s age, and I had thought what a lovely face this girl had and how cute she looked in the hat she wore. This particular morning we began chatting, and she told me that she had quit her course at the college. It was a similar course to the one Joanna had been taking at the same college (the one where I work).

As we talked, I felt a strong impression: Tell her about Jo. I thought, No, why? I then heard myself saying, "My daughter is doing a similar course. I don’t suppose you know her–Jo Langley?" It turned out my new acquaintance, Kerry, did know Jo. Not through college work, but through the Christian Union!

Kerry said the most amazing thing. Each morning she had seen me coming to the bus stop, she had thought how much I looked like Jo Langley. Mothers resembling daughters is nothing new. But no one had ever before said Joanna and I looked alike. This was no mere coincidence.

Over the past months, God had been dealing with sin in my life and, as a result, the burden for Joanna had increased to such an extent that it felt as if I physically carried her around continuously–that is, until 1 January, 1999. That was the day I finally agreed with God’s desire to take an intercessory stand for Jo. I knew that her need to repent of her rebellion and return to God was the very evidence of God’s supply. For encouragement, God had given me the following scriptures as proof of His intentions: "Your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy" and "Your children will come again to their own land." (Jeremiah 31:16-17, New Living Translation). And I know that what God has said, He will surely do. Indeed, in the spirit realm, Jo is already restored to God. I now see myself as the "father" watching afar off for his prodigal son to return (Luke 15:11-32).

I have since learned that Jo has also quit her course and the general trend of her life is on a downward spiral. Truly, in Norman’s words, the way to God is down, not up. My experience is of divine excitement as I turn my back on the visible. This is God’s situation, He is handling it. God has promised Jo’s return, and in the words of C.T. Studd: "Faith, mighty faith the promise sees and looks to that alone; laughs at impossibilities and cries it shall be done!" Jesus Christ, who "ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 11:25), intercedes for Jo through me. And He will hold fast and stand firm through the commission and cost to the completion.

So when Kerry said how much I looked like Jo, it was as if I was standing on Holy ground. God’s confirmation of my identification with my daughter, the first stage of intercession.

Once the bus arrived, we sat together chatting for the duration of the journey. We talked out Jo, what was happening in Kerry’s life, and the role of a mother, amongst other Christian things.

I am convinced God determined that meeting with Kerry and subsequent conversation. Maybe one day God will reveal His purpose in it, not only for Jo, but for Kerry also. Meanwhile, I know that if Joanna makes her bed in hell, God is there also and every day of her life is recorded in His book (Ps.139). As for me, I am so grateful that God has given me the privilege of being the vessel through whom Jesus Christ is interceding for Jo. I now have the opportunity of being for her in a real (spirit) way-something I never was before as a mother. I am amazed at God’s grace. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."