A New Legacy: Faith

Riley Grace, our precious daughter, is teaching me many things, though two are engraved on my heart more deeply each day... the love of the Father and faith. Every morning I hold my baby girl and feel that I am going to burst at the seems, as my love overflows. I do not just love her; I love, love, love her. I now understand why the Lord asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?"

"Yes Lord, I love you."

"Do you love me?"

"Yes Lord, I love you."

"Do you love me?"

"Yes Lord, I love you."

How inadequate are these words. The meaning and the inner groaning of them reaches so much deeper. Just as I was reading this morning, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Rm. 11:33a)  When read, "Oh," to me, is an inner groaning of the true depths of His wisdom and knowledge. How much greater and stronger is the love of our Daddy, Abba Father, who has called us to be His children.

Brenton and I purchased a home, just about two years ago. We prayed it through and truly believed God opened door after door to make it possible. We were overjoyed with our dream home, a reality come true. Ironically, that home has now become the burden of my day, as we need it sold.  Then come the questions... "Where we wise in buying?", "Did God answer our prayers like He gave Isreal King Saul, who wanted a king though it was not best for them?", "Was this all to teach us a few lessons?" One thing I know, we cannot live in the past though my tendency shoots me right back there.

As time has passed and this burden has grown, we have begun to feel a little overwhelmed; and the more desperate we feel to have answers and make decisions. Speaking for myself, I know I initially tried to solve the burden on my own. However, being at home with my precious girl, I've been rendered helpless. Oh how I love, love, love being with her but how am I to help us? Christ reminded me, "Never be wise in your own sight." (Rm 12:16b) And then like clockwork, in my brokenness He became strong.

In a Sunday morning service a few weeks back, He probed me to come back to Him and sit at His feet, as He has honestly been on my backburner for sometime. First we, He and I, needed to deal with what was most important. I began reading in Acts where I had left off; reading about the apostles boldly sharing Christ, being persecuted and God's power being made known. Mixed with days of shedding tears, my faith slowly started to grow as I was reminded of the all-powerful God we serve. Our house, though major to us, is such a small feat to God, "The One who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist." (Rm 4:17)

Continuing through Romans, the Lord challenged me to have faith like Abraham, a faith "counted to him as righteousness." Abraham claimed the promise that God would give him a son, and he held fast to this promise. Romans 4:20-21 says, "No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised." God has continued to bring many reminders of His truth to help me grow stronger.

I do not want to take scripture out of context and claim words that are not promises to all, but I do recall two promises Christ makes all believers. He will meet all our needs and He works all things together for our good, according to His will. The answer may not come as I hope, but I am not going to settle to believe what is easy. Until He answers this prayer, I am going to pray that He works in a mighty way because He is a Might God. In Romans 5:8, He says, "and hope does not put us to shame..." What is hope unless we believe God can do something greater than we can do ourselves?

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (Rm 8:26)  No, our house is not sold and I am no where near having faith like Abraham. But what I can say is that God is growing my faith daily and reminding me how dearly He loves me. Oh, He is breaking me, but somehow in this brokenness it all makes sense. And I am beckoned to remember, "Hope does not put us to shame."