the substance of things hoped for...
Faith. It's my daughter's middle name. It's the thing we lean on every day as our feet hit the floor. Mine is being stretched, grown, cultivated, shaped, and sifted. And it's good. God never does one thing without doing 10,000 other things beside...(that's a loose John Piper quote). And sometimes I think He almost dazzles us with a few dozen answers to prayer all at once, just to unlatch the door of wonder for us to walk through. Wonder at him.
I'm there right now. Like when you read the parts in the Narnia books about "Aslan on the move...," I find myself looking for where God will display his glory next. In the small, minute detail of care? Or in the world-wide newspaper headline-kind of way. 'Cause I've seen Him do both. Yes, even in my small little incidental life.
One day, on a whim, I momentarily muse about something that I might like to have...that would make my life a bit more comfortable or savory... And I put the thought away, figuring that frugality should say "no, you don't need that," and move on. Then, a day, a week, a month, or maybe a few years later, when I'm least expecting it, there it is! The very thing I dismissed as "not necessary" is suddenly being given to me. Most of the time, this is with no payment on my part! I have had this happen with flannel sheets, pastries, haircuts, clothing, cars, relationships, ministry opportunities... I can't even enumerate them all. And this is what has happened: my faith has grown for God to do impossible tasks. Because He shows detailed care to me in meeting not only my biggest need (salvation), but my most trifling desire...(free flannel sheets, just as winter sets in), I begin to ask him for bigger and more weighty things. And the stunning part is, He WANTS me to ask. He wants to astound us with His glory. With His power. Let us ask, that it will be given. But let us ask in faith, with no doubting. Let us not be double-minded and unstable as the waves on the ocean.
I'm there right now. Like when you read the parts in the Narnia books about "Aslan on the move...," I find myself looking for where God will display his glory next. In the small, minute detail of care? Or in the world-wide newspaper headline-kind of way. 'Cause I've seen Him do both. Yes, even in my small little incidental life.
One day, on a whim, I momentarily muse about something that I might like to have...that would make my life a bit more comfortable or savory... And I put the thought away, figuring that frugality should say "no, you don't need that," and move on. Then, a day, a week, a month, or maybe a few years later, when I'm least expecting it, there it is! The very thing I dismissed as "not necessary" is suddenly being given to me. Most of the time, this is with no payment on my part! I have had this happen with flannel sheets, pastries, haircuts, clothing, cars, relationships, ministry opportunities... I can't even enumerate them all. And this is what has happened: my faith has grown for God to do impossible tasks. Because He shows detailed care to me in meeting not only my biggest need (salvation), but my most trifling desire...(free flannel sheets, just as winter sets in), I begin to ask him for bigger and more weighty things. And the stunning part is, He WANTS me to ask. He wants to astound us with His glory. With His power. Let us ask, that it will be given. But let us ask in faith, with no doubting. Let us not be double-minded and unstable as the waves on the ocean.
I'm just catching up on your blog, and I have to thank you for this Kristin. This past year my faith has also grown in leaps and bounds "for God to do impossible tasks," but I admit is has also been shaken and teetering. Thanks for the reminder that God wants me to ask and wants to show himself big and mighty in this way in my life. Dave Harvey once said "faith looks up and faith looks back," and I want to do both as I grow in my trust and love for my mighty and kind Father.
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