Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Precious in His Sight

How little we know of life, let alone of God, when it comes without suffering. This week I've been overwhelmed with the trials given by God to many faithful people I haven't had the honor of ever meeting. People who understand what it means to live daily on their faces before God, who have had the comfortable parts of their lives destroyed by an ever loving, ever gracious, ever omnipotent Heavenly Father.

I've read their stories. I've wept and asked God "why?". And yet the strength of their resolve to praise the Lord at all times compels me not to value my own safe little life but to grapple to know the All Consuming Fire that sustains them. Their stories have become for me a modern day Hall of Faith:

"Now faith is the assurance of the things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible..."

"...These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth."

Take some time today to read Hebrews 11. Add Nate and Tricia and Gwyneth, The Stanfields, The Hostetters, and the Davis Family to the list of the patriarchs who take God at His Word. And wonder with me---with much fear and trepidation--if we would also be found worthy to suffer for Him as they do.

2 comments:

sweetnika said...

thanks for the sharing saralyn.... Trusting Christ, is something we think we do, till He shows us, we don't.
you are loved

Sarah said...

I've been reading these stories as well and asking the same questions. These families have put a longing in me for faith like theirs.