Growing Through It

Trials in my life have brought me pain…

and much heartbreak…

and an ocean of tears.

But they have also helped me grow in my faith.  As I have persevered through my current darkness toward the light, God has kept his promise by constantly being right by my side.

After asking God for wisdom for this journey, I find that he has given me insight and knowledge when I need it to make decisions and take next steps.  I have no doubt that God hears all of my prayers and is in the process of answering them in a way that is best for me and my family.

But it is extremely hard to consider this all joy as James tells us to do in his first chapter.

Maybe in years to come I will consider some of this trial as joy.

a-sparkDon’t get me wrong – there are small sparks of joy now.

Sparks of  ‘this is why’.

Sparks of ‘God is moving mountains’.

And my trust – our trust – is growing as we have had to hold onto God with both hands as we figure out how to move forward.  There is some joy in that.

I trust that he has the best planned for me and my family.   Trusting brings hope and peace and strength.

Please help us to continue to grow, Abba Father.

Will I Step Out?

We want to see God move in our lives.

We pray.

We know he is on our side.

He walks with us and talks with us, and he tells us that we are his own – words from a great old hymn.

We ask him for his intervention in our lives and in the lives of others.

But how much do we trust him?

How far will we go to show that trust?

Often, in order for us to see God move in our lives, he leads us to a place where we need to step out in faith.

One of my favorite biblical illustrations of this truth is when the Israelites were finally ready to cross the Jordan river into the Promised Land for the first time.March 10 b 2016 step pout in faith

They had been waiting and planning for this for a very long time.

Joshua received these instructions from God, “the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you’ (Joshua 3:11).

And, as soon as the priests who were carrying the ark set foot into the Jordan, ‘it’s waters flowing downstream will cut off and stand up like a heap.” (13).

The Bible also tells us that the Jordan was at flood stage.  It was not the quiet river it was when I was there 2 years ago (picture).gDSC_0585

The water was raging out of its banks.

And – notice – the priests holding the ark were going to have to set their feet into the Jordan before it would stop and part for them.

How much trust did this take?

They obviously trusted God enough because they stepped into the flooding river and had front-row seats in witnessing God perform a miracle.

God often asks the same thing of us today.

Yes, we want to see him move in our lives and in the lives of others.

Yes, we are often asking for a miracle.

Do we have enough trust to step out in faith before we see him move?  Before we witness a miracle?

Even when its scary?  Messy?  Different?

Please grow our trust in you, Abba Father.