He Speaks Peace!

God loves us so intimately He knows just how to speak to us. The blog below was written by Maribeth Stech, sister of Mike Verkaik, who I asked to share how her Father God ‘s voice is bringing her through a difficult season right now.

Two years ago with the Covid running rampant my work gave us the opportunity to take a couple days to have a spiritual retreat. When thinking about where and how I wanted to have/do my retreat I thought of South Africa. Why South Africa? Because my husband had been there a few times with my brother to  Oceans Retreat Center and it was a place I wanted to go after he came back and talked about his time there. So we decided to add time on to the retreat and make it a vacation where we would be able to serve the ministry.

I then asked Pastor Tim if he would be willing to be a part of my retreat, and he was more than willing. Without knowing that one of my favorite verses is Psalm 46:10 he based the first day of my retreat on this Psalm 46:10 which says:

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Tim and I met for awhile and then he encouraged me to spend some time alone. So I walked by the ocean and found a bench to sit on to watch and listen to the waves. I spent time listening to God and what He had to say to me through journaling. When I was walking back to the retreat center I found a bench with a dedication plaque. At the bottom of the dedication was written “Be Still and Know” I feel and know this was God speaking to me telling me to be still, listen to His voice and know, feel His presence.

Now it’s two years later and a lot has happened. I was just recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The cancer has metastasized to my bones and I have had to have a complete hip replacement.

A few weeks ago my brother Mike asked me if I could go back to any place I had been before where would I go, and without hesitation I said I would like to go back to South Africa. Thanks to some unanimous donors I am able to write this blog from South Africa.

God has been using my time here to be prayed over in multiple languages. On Monday night we went to a Fullies church prayer meeting and I was prayed over in a couple languages. Wednesday evening Pastor Raymond and his wife Pamela prayed over me and sang a beautiful song about God’s peace as we got ready to serve dinner at Jim Se Bos township. And Sunday at the church in Masi township I was also prayed over. What a blessing to be prayed over in so many languages, even though I didn’t understand it all I was filled with heavens peace as prayers ascended on my behalf.

Since being here I have been able to find my bench again. God has blessed my time here and has given me a time to relax in Him and find His peace in the midst of this present storm. To be Still and to Know His presence is the greatest blessing of all.