Faith of our Fathers
Hebrews 11
by guest blogger, Author Patti Lacy
“I’ve prayed and prayed about this.” A friend sat on the edge of my cracked old couch. “God just isn’t answering.” Angst contorted her well-sculpted features. “Like, maybe my faith isn’t strong enough. Maybe there’s something wrong with me here. What is God trying to say about me?”
Haven’t we all been there? Prayed and cried enough tears to fill that valley where God has placed us, yet God remains silent? Haven’t we begged the Holy Spirit to reveal a sin that would cause such a “no reply” for our Heavenly Father? Haven’t we yelled, “God, surely I’ve done penance by now. Paid the price for Sins X, Y, and Z. Why do You refuse to answer my prayers?
In trying times, we’re told as believers to run to the Word of God. Don’t you love the Good News in our Bible? Though I don’t love “the rest of the story” nearly as much as that Good News (and I don’t believe we’re intended to), God does give us answers to this perplexing question of “Why?”
Read the Book of Job. “Concordance” (yeah, it’s a verb) scriptures on perseverance. Check out the Hall of Famers of Faith. Surely these singled out by God for faith—by the way, our kinsmen and -women through the blood of Christ—grappled with “Whys.”
Hebrews 11:1-8: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see…By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice…By faith, Enoch was taken from his life so that he did not experience death. By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going…”
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth (Hebrews 11:13).
With the slalom-skiing experience of a book release, it’s been great to trust God with my unanswered promises, to acknowledge bewilderment with some of the ways of this earth, and leave it at that.
Worship. Praise. Write. Laugh. Love. Sing.
Because He is God. And it is enough. Yes, it is enough.
Worship. Praise. Write. Laugh. Love. Sing.
Because He is God. And it is enough. Yes, it is enough.
. . . I failed to mention the last exciting part.
We have the promise of heaven. Eternity! That's a promise worth waiting for!
When prayers go unanswered I choose to remember the lyrics to a favorite Garth Brooks song- "sometimes God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." There have been many times I have looked back and been able to see HIS reasoning. Other times, I think HE has bigger better plans and sometimes HE simply is saying "not right now". In other words, I know that HE has a plan for me and my life and it will work out in the greater scheme of things.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason the little story at the beginning reminded me of something I learned this year.
ReplyDeleteOnce we are washed in the blood of Christ, our spirits are clean before God. Period. Therefore its not so much our "sin" that separates us from God, as it is our guilt, fear, hard-heartedness, etc... resulting from our sin that seperates us from God. It's not so much that we don't have faith in God, as it is we see ourselves as being unworthy of his faithfulness.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Brenda.
Your words are so true. We just have to trust.
Dina, I think it's common for many of us to think we are not worthy. I mean we aren't! BUT He makes it so.
I'll be away from my computer much of the day, but I look forward to checking in later as always!
Thank you so much Patti, for hanging around two days!
Hi Patti, great post!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brenda. That song came to mind, too.
Faith also requires patience. Patience to see what God's will is for us.
Jewel, that's why I love SUCH a variety of song!
ReplyDeleteOh, Jewel. Patience. A virtue I'm trying to gain, one agonizing wait after another...
Great comments!
Patti
Yes, it is enough. Don't know where I'd be without Him.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Karen
So good to see Patti here. She has such a good message whether devotionally or fictitiously through her novels. I needed to hear this today. Bless you, Debra, for hosting such an uplifting post!
ReplyDeleteEvery time a prayer has gone unanswered, in retrospect, I can see God's hand working in some way other than that for which I asked. It's tough, though, when you're going through and waiting for the answer that doesn't come. Patience, yes. Also, trust and optimism that He really does care as much as He cares for the sparrows.
ReplyDeleteI could be that friend on your couch. I read Job, I pray, I wonder. Then it comes down to I have to trust my faith in the Lord and what I've seen Him do in the past.
ReplyDeleteI actually thought of the hymn, Faith of our Fathers and wondered if I've even sung that in 40 years. (about the time I stopped going to the Presbyterian church and started to go to non-denominational, hmmmm. Well, it stuck with me, in any case.)
ReplyDeleteI needed this reminder today, Patti, as promises and plans (human plans) seem to not amount to much today, so I need to cling to the facts that never change.
If anyone didn't have a chance to read yesterday's post, let me remind you that Patti talked about her recent release, The Rhythm of Secrets on Wednesday. Thanks Patti!
Karen, great to see you here! Laura, I hope God fills you today with the peace that passeth all understanding. You, too Debra! You three, Terri!
ReplyDeleteI have felt y'all's writer pains...and probably many other kinds as well, being fifty-five, a mom, a wife.
Having believer friends is another wonderful salve for the problems of this world...
Thanks.
Patti
Really good post, Patti! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI was recently in the black hole of depression, and just opening up the Word felt impossible... I am so grateful for the kindness of God reaching down, using the body of Christ to speak (or write!!!) words that ministered to my soul.
It is so good to be reminded that He loves us and nothing can separate us from His love. No matter what the trial.
Thanks Debra, for posting!
Oh, Cheryl, thanks for sharing from your pain.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Inkies, for allowing me not one, but two posts!
Blessings,
Patti