All in Faithfulness
Speaking “I love you” does not come easily for me. As a child, I did not hear those words. I was twenty years old when my future husband told me, “I love you.” I eventually found the courage to say the words to him. When I was thirty-one, I finally heard those all-important words from my mom and dad—by phone—across the country.
In deepest grief, the writer of Lamentations wrote of the destruction of his beloved city and nation. Even though his people had experienced terrible atrocities and even though they were still experiencing pain and suffering, he made an amazing statement about God: …great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23).
I know looking at your small child going through those great big doors of school can be scary! Having them walk away from you as they face the journey ahead and not even look back can be challenging.
In Malachi’s day reverence for the Lord had hit rock bottom once again. God knew there was only one way to make His message plain and clear. He had to shift the focus of His people off themselves and the world, back on Him.
The night of Jesus’ betrayal had arrived. The moments with His disciples before His crucifixion were limited. Therefore, Jesus was purposeful in His actions.
Gazing through my stunted window, it registered that this is what trials of my life may look like from God’s perspective.
I found myself walking around the house telling God everything that was wrong and how yesterday’s circumstances had left me feeling so overwhelmed. The devil was clearly intervening in my quiet time. And the sad thing--I was letting him.
It was 1998 and the caller on the other end of the line was Linda Lesniewski. The purpose of her call was to ask if I would be interested in auditioning for a new devotional for women, called encouraging.com.
What battles have you faced recently? A dispute with a friend or co-worker? A fight with a family member? A health fear?
I never felt “good enough”. I have made mistakes. I have regrets. But I am thankful those things do not disqualify me from being used by God. I love how God chose certain women throughout scripture when He needed a job done. If you are like me, then you too want to be used by God and “picked” to fulfill his Divine Purposes. For many of us that desire might also come with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy.
How about cleaning out some of those bins full of journals? My husband had a legitimate point. He had moved the bins of Bible studies and notebooks from attic to attic during the last fifteen years we’d been married. I lifted the lid and memories flooded my mind. Journaling in my childhood bedroom. Scribbling away under a lush Magnolia tree at Baylor. Pouring out my heart on lonely nights in my small apartment. That bubbly handwriting of my youth eventually gave way to chicken scratch that makes my children cringe today.
Years ago, my son told me his friend’s high school band would be going to a fabulous destination that year. My son was jealous. He wanted to go, too. I explained that the trip was a well-deserved reward for his friend. His friend had faithfully played for years in the band. He had consistently shown up to many band practices. He had practiced his instrument for countless hours.
