Your Heart’s Cry
The other day, while at work, I received a very unusual phone call. The lady on the other end was an acquaintance. We barely spoke. I couldn’t remember how long it had been. She asked me if she could meet with me. She said it had nothing to do with work and that it was a “spiritual matter.” We made an appointment for the very next day.
I got busy the next day and had forgotten about our appointment until I happened to be up front and saw her walk through the door.
We sat down and she began to share her heart. She shared with me that God had impressed upon her to “come talk to Lori Casto, she will pray with you.” She said she knew it sounded crazy, but she was just being obedient. She went on to tell me how she wanted me to pray with her about finding a man to marry. She also said that she wasn’t just looking for a man to marry, but someone who saw her worth & value.
Her heart’s desire was for someone that looked forward to seeing her and spending time with her. She told me she never had anyone that found her to be worthwhile. My heart was saddened as she shared. I told her how she does have worth, and God sees her as worthwhile. I quickly understood why God put my name on her heart to pray.
Memories of my life 26 years ago flooded my mind as I began to share with her. 26 years ago, I went through a divorce. Over the next 4 years after my divorce, I longed and craved for someone to love. I feel like many times the same feelings she was sharing with me were in my own heart all those years ago.
God knew my longing heart 26 years ago and God knows her longing heart now. After given the opportunity to share my story with her, we then took the opportunity to pray. I look forward to getting a call from her telling me about the man she is going to marry.
After she left, my mind continued to go back to that time 22 years ago when I had gotten to the end of my rope after having been on my own with my son for 4 years. I was working at a book publishing company bored to tears and there was no decent man in sight. I had put my resume together hoping and praying for the right job to open. I even interviewed for a sales job at a local radio station that offered a good salary but didn’t feel clear about taking it.
My mom saw an ad for an assisted living facility called Wedgewood Estates and I reluctantly sent in my resume. (The sales job in radio sales was becoming more and more appealing.) On a Monday morning, as I was driving to work dreading my day, I prayed these words in desperation… “Dear Heavenly Father… I need a job and a man.” That same Thursday I received a call from a man named Bill Casto, the owner of Wedgewood Estates. He did a quick phone interview from an airport. I later had 2 more on-site interviews, one of which was with Bill Casto and his son, Randy.
Despite Randy not wanting to hire me because of my lack of experience, (for a job I wasn’t even sure I wanted) Bill hired me. 3 years after accepting a position at Wedgewood, I married Randy Casto. 17 months after that, our daughter Maria was born. It’s almost 19 years since we got married and my husband still enjoys spending time with me. He sees my value. We are very blessed. I am very blessed. If God can do that for me, He can do that for you.
If you ever think for one minute God doesn’t hear your heart’s cry, I can promise you He does. If you ever think you are broken and you can never be fixed, I’m here to tell you, you’re wrong. If you ever think God’s plan and your plan can’t be merged to make one amazing plan, I promise you, it can. The closer you are to God, the more your desire and God’s desire become one. I had to be willing to try it God’s way, though. I am so thankful for a God who answered my heart’s cry. I’m thankful for a God who took 2 broken people and gave restoration. I’m so thankful for a lady who obeyed God to seek me out to pray with her. It was as much for my benefit as it was hers. Time gets in the way. It can cause you to forget just how awesome God has worked.