The Race of Faith

I woke up with such excitement. Finally race day, and I needed it so bad. A chance to get out and prove to myself and the world one more time that I had what it takes. To prove that even though life is not anything what I want or need it to be that I still have what it takes. Even though I will never be the fastest something just clicks when I race.

The race itself was abysmal. The swim, one of my strongest parts went well and I got to my bike ready to go. But ten feet into my bike ride my tire went flat. As I changed my tire, I watched hundreds of people pass me by. Some offered quick condolences and others completely in race mode only thinking about their time. My hopes of having a race that would make me feel better grew fainter and fainter with each person that passed me by.

The rest of the race did not go any better, and instead of the moment of victory I needed so badly I ran through the finish gates feeling defeated instead.

Ever since my race all I can think of is the verse in Hebrews that said run the race with perseverance, but it was not until today that I looked it up. It is amazing. In chapter 11 the author talks about all of these people of faith, and not just their faith but what God did as a response to that faith. As he concludes this historic chapter he commissions his readers. He tells them to run the race with perseverance, to follow the example of Jesus. Reminding them that if their Lord and savior could endure the cross that we to can persevere towards him.

So maybe it is not a good race that my heart and soul need so much, but some time with my Lord and Savior. Drinking in the truth of his love and cultivating my desire to be more like him. Remembering that all the true strength that I have comes from him.

Jehovah-Jireh

I was reminded today of one of my favorite stories of faith. The story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham had been waiting forever for his son, the one that was to become the father of a nation. He had waited so long that he jumped the gun a little with a servant and subsequently birthed two nations. But that isn't my favorite part of the story. My favorite part is when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son as a sign of his devotion.

Just image it. You have a father and a son climbing up a mountain together (one that in my imagination looks suspiciously like Pikes Peak). The father has given the son a whole bunch of wood to carry, partly because he can't carry it all alone and partly to keeps his son's hands still. They begin the journey upward. Every step for the father feels as if he is walking through quicksand. He knows what his task is, and dreads it, but fears God more. The son walks a little lighter but is confused. Everything needed for a sacrifice is there except the sacrifice itself, it does not make sense but he continues anyway. At one point he turns around and asks his dad where the sacrifice is, to which his dad solemnly declares that the Lord will provide.

That right there is my favorite moment. Abraham does not know that God is going to give him a lamb. He has no idea that God is going to spare his son. He just knows that God provides. I have often wondered if maybe he thought that if God forced him to sacrifice this son that God would give him another, or if he had hoped all along that their would be a lamb in the end.

They got to the place of sacrifice. So Abraham did what he set out to do, he built the alter, and prepared his son to be the sacrifice. He took the very thing that meant the most to him and prepared it to be sacrificed. He took the son that he had waited so long for, the hope of a nation and prepared him for sacrifice. It was not until the very last moment that God stepped in and had an angel stop Abraham.

Jehovah-Jireh, The God who Provides.

I wish that I had the faith of Abraham. The ability to truly believe that God will provide for me however he sees fit. I look at my miserable attempts to sacrifice comforts and compare that to what Abraham and I feel ashamed, I mean really, giving up chocolate for a month is nothing compared to giving up a son. What is sadder still is how I actually thought I was strong enough to give up chocolate for a month, who was I kidding.

But that is the great part of faith. God knows me, and knows how hard I'm trying to put my complete faith in him. He sees my attempts and failures at sacrificing and takes them as the offering they were meant to be. He continues to mold me and shape me into the person that I am to become. Mostly though he provides. He provides me with a constant reminder of his love. He provides me with a hope for the future and healing for the past.

Jehovah-Jireh

What's next?

My sister and I were having a conversation the other day about taking verses out of context. We settled on one verse in particular that people love to quote and scholars love to point out as being taken out of context. Jeremiah 29:11. I agree with scholars that the verse is taken out of context and that is a dangerous thing to do, but does that really make it less true?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

I believe that God does have a plan for our lives, but gives us the opportunity to follow that plan or not. He gives us the choice to follow him and his ways or to follow the ways of the world.

I believe that in following God's plans, he desires for you to prosper, but that doesn't mean that sin has not entered the world and as a result that bad things do happen. I believe that God does not intend for us to be harmed but uses the results of sin and the harm it causes to teach us and mold us into better people.

Plans to give you a hope and a future. Isn't that what heaven is all about. Following what God wants in my life is what gives me hope and I know my future is secure in him through Christ's sacrifice.

I'm struggling with plans right now. I want to know what God wants me to do, what job I should have, will I someday get married have kids, should I go into missions, the possibilities of my future are endless. I understand that this verse was not written for me, but I still think that God views me in the same light. His plan for me is to follow him, and in doing so I have the hope of a future with him and right now, that's all I need to know.

Love is Patient

I have been very careful to follow the golden rule of Christianity, you know the one, never pray for patience because if you do God will give you a reason to be patient. I promise you I haven't prayed for patience, but I think that is the lesson I am learning anyways. How to be patient.

I have never been one to be patient. I want to see results and I want to see them now. I am great at starting new projects only to leave them when I don't see progress soon enough. I have dozens of quilts, and knitting projects just screaming to be finished yet I already know what project I want to start next.

Instead of praying for the patience I know I lacked I prayed instead that I would learn to love.

Funny thing about love though, love takes patience. So the first thing you think about is I Corinthians 13 right. Favorite passage of weddings everywhere. So right before this iconic verse, Paul is talking about some divisions in the church. They had been fighting over what spiritual gift was more important. So what does Paul say? Get over yourselves and learn how to love each other, and this is what it looks like. It's putting other people before yourself. It's being patient.

So what does that mean, I'm being given a lesson in patience, even though I didn't ask for it. I don't like it and it has been hard but I know it will make me a better person. The funny thing about this lesson in patience, it has been teaching me that I am in crazy love with my God.