Just over three months ago, my family moved 1,500 miles away from everything that embodied home for us. We traded the gently rolling hills of Tennessee for the edgy mountains of Colorado. We took a leap of faith and trusted God’s wisdom to guide us every step of the way.
We had no idea what the road ahead would hold. We didn’t know if we would find a church home, make friends, or enjoy snow two-thirds of the year. Three months later, we still have no idea.
If I give myself even a single moment to ponder my future, I slip. I lose faith. I begin to question every decision we have ever made. If I go beyond what my eyes can see, I become blinded by my doubts rendering me helpless and weepy. Sometimes, I wonder if God has forgotten about us here in this new land.
Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands. ~Isaiah 49:15-16a
God has not forgotten me. Like Job, I am being tested and refined. Will I persevere? Will I endure? Will I turn from my faith?
No, we do not have a church home. No, I do not have friends that I can call on in a moments notice. I have no idea how I will endure so much snow. I do not know if the loneliness will subside. But I do know that God did not bring us here to leave us.
I am reminded of the words of Francine Rivers in her book, A Voice in the Wind. A brother says to his sister when Jerusalem is being destroyed:
“Have faith. Have faith. When you have nothing else, have faith.”
If like me, you have found yourself among impossible circumstances, take courage and choose faith. Our Lord is compassionate and merciful. He will never leave or forsake us. Like the farmer, we must wait for the early and late rains before we can bear the fruit of our harvest (James 5:7-11). Remember the last verses in the book of Job? After all the suffering, enduring all the trials, and waiting for God’s deliverance, the Word tells us that “the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginnings” (Job 42:12)!
May we be a community of women, enduring faithfully the trials of this world, and trusting in God’s everlasting love and grace to carry us home to Him.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen…and without faith it is impossible to please [God]. ~Hebrews 11:1, 6a
What impossible odds are you facing today? How can we come alongside you and pray?
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Nature Scavenger Hunt
Such a great encouragement! So often I need to be reminded of this. It’s very easy to be like Peter and look at the storm instead of the God Who is walking on the water!
I’m the same way, Anne! Far too often.