A couple sit in church watching the baby dedication. The husband reaches over and gently but firmly grasp his wife hand. With the other hand he reaches up tenderly wipes the silent tears that are flowing down her face. She looks at him and smiles, mouths I am okay. He nods and wipes tears of his own, for he feels her pain of a barren womb, trying not to ask God where is my child I long to hold This quiet exchange goes unnoticed by others around them, but there is One who watches them, He feels their pain. The maker of the stars has a plan for them and He will not forget them. He grieves with them, shares their ups and downs, their hope of having children of their own. He also brings them faith that He is in control and rejoices when they fix their eyes on Him. Knowing that even if they are not blessed with children of their own, He will honor and reward them in others ways. The verse that this young couple clings to comes from Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord; do not depend on your own understanding. They trust Him completely and lean on Him on those nights when they think they can no longer go on...
A dad comes with a handful of mail, his shoulders slump as he looks through the mail. His wife comes around from the kitchen with a question in her eyes, not wanting to ask the question out loud, but it is on her lips ready to be asked. Then she notices the slump of his shoulders, the lowering of his head as he looks at the last piece of mail. He looks up, put on a brave smile and says, "not today". She nods her head and goes back to the kitchen to finish fixing lunch. The dad has been out of work for over 2 years and he was hoping to find his finally approved unemployment check. He fixes his eyes on the ceiling and silently cries out to God, Where is my job? I am trying to trust you Lord, I am trying to have faith that you will provide all of my families needs. Then immediately he repents as he remembers a promise from God, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life"? Matthew 6:25-34 He sets the mail on the table and then he feels a prompting from the Holy Spirit, to pick up the mail and look again...He pauses picks up the mail and tucked in between a cell phone advertisement and a hospital bill is the check from unemployment. With a prayer of thanks he runs into the kitchen picks up his wife swings her around and says God is faithful to provide to those who trust in him...
A single mom kisses her treasures good bye, gives them final instruction on what they are to have for dinner then she heads out the door to work. She races down the steps, stops and looks around her yard and sees the neglect. Hangs her head in shame and then looks up and cries out to God, Where is my husband? am I not worthy enough to have someone to share the responsibilities of life with? Where have I gone wrong that I am left to raise my children alone? What do I need to change so that I might enjoy the fruits of marriage? My kids need two parents, not one that is at times barely hanging on. Lord I am trying to be faithful to trust, I know that you have a plan for me and my family. She then remembers Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and all his righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well. She realizes she was having a good old fashion pity party, turns goes back into the house give her kids another kiss good bye and this time when she goes down the steps it was with a smile in her heart and on her face...
The wife looks down on her sleeping husband and breathes a prayer of relief when she sees the rise and fall of his chest. Tomorrow will be his 30th birthday and only a few family and friends will be there to celebrate it. Just this time last year they were planning a huge family camp/cook out when they got the got the call from the doctor telling them they needed to come in and speak with him. Getting the news that he had a brain tumor that was inoperable. That they needed to get his affairs in order he had 6-months to a year to live. As they drove home they prayed for healing, they called their church and asked for a prayer chain to be started. When they did not see the healing that they so desperately prayed for they tried to not ask God where is his healing. They clung to the promise that God is a healing God. A God that can moves mountains in the blink of an eye. Months went by and the anniversary of finding out the devastating news was fast approaching. The wife tried not to live in fear of losing the man she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with. Fighting emotions of anger at God, emotions of feeling rejected by God, then feeling suddenly ashamed for not trusting Him she turned to Him in prayer. The Lord gently whispered this in her ear, So do not fear, I am with you; do not be dismayed on am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 Wiping the tears from her eyes she thanked God for the time she has with her husband and remembered to count things with all joy. She also had a sudden confirmation that God was indeed a healing God and not to lose faith...
Whether you have dreams of having children, trying not to be fearful of not having a job, wondering if you will always be a single parent, or clinging to the hopes of healing. Just know that when you fix your eyes upon God and let him take control. Life becomes more bearable also, your testimony is someone else's push to get through a very tough situation. It is okay to call out to God and ask where is mine. This is not a lack of faith it is being humble, honest and transparent with the One who created you. Listen to what He says to you and if you don't hear anything right away don't lose hope. He is waiting for you to be still and turn everything over to Him. He loves you that much and wants to take care of you. My prayer for you today is that you do just that let Him take control and wait for His response.
~Missie
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