Jim and I have joked about the fact that since Jim started teaching our ss class, we inevitably had something happen in our lives that would be applicable to the lesson he was teaching the coming Sunday and of course would be the perfect example to use in class. Through this teaching season, we have grown to be very transparent with our class. It has been a blessing and we would not trade our class for the world. We have all grown very close and consider our ss class to not just be a class, but our group of close friends. It's not your typical "howdy-doo, bring a dish to potluck, we are praying for you" kind of ss group. We value our friendships, we enjoy being with them, and we look forward to growing and learning from them and with them. So why should I be surprised that a while back, it was decided that our class would study Faith next? May be a little more truth in that joke than we'd like to admit.
I have found myself seeking, searching, and reading all I can about hope. Hope that God will carry me through this darkness. Hope that God will heal my heart. Hope that God will use this all to His glory and the Kingdom. Hope that I will wake up each day with joy in my heart. Hope that I will continue to choose God's light to walk through this darkness. The more I search, the more I see that hope is never without faith.
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1
"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Romans 4:18-21
When hope was dead in Abraham, he kept on hoping in faith, believing that he would become "the father of many nations". He relied on the word of God which definitely referred to "thy seed". With his faith, he considered the circumstances, his own impotence and Sarah's barrenness. However, he REFUSED to allow anything waver him from God. He drew his strength from his faith and continued giving God glory, hoping through his faith that Gods promise was true.
"This means tremendous joy to you, even though at present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials. This is no accident--it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold" 1 Peter 1:6-7
So Lord, I beg you once again, please Lord use our loss for your glory and for the greater good of your Kingdom. You are a constant sovereign God and to be able to love you and live for you is a blessing in and of itself that I do not deserve. My heart aches for the Mommies and Daddies in our world who have lost a child. Father please wrap them in your mighty, loving arms and reveal to them the hope through faith they can find in you. Love them the way you love Jim and myself, warmly, wholly, and eternally. Amen.
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