Lord, I believe, help my unbelief | When Loss Challenges Faith: The gift of trial

A memory popped up on my Facebook feed today which was a powerful moment in my Christian faith and I thought I would share it with you all today.

A year ago today I was praying out loud to God on behalf of my daughter Lumina. I was asking God that she would be perfectly healthy, long lived and joyful, but also I was asking God to help her know, love and serve Jesus.

As I said my prayer Lumina scoffed loudly! Now, she's never been particularly vocal, and particularly a year ago she was very often quiet, but in that moment she was both verbal and perfectly clear. She had heard my prayers and was challenging me!

As if to say, dad, you know that a life worth living isn't clean and easy. And, it's through difficulty that we come to have the most possible from life. And often it's only through the darkness that we reach for the hope and life available in Jesus.

God Shouts to us in our Pain:

The thing is... I believe that deep joy, appreciation, and genuine satisfaction are a result of persavering life's mess yet all I could say to Lumina was, "I know it's silly to pray for life without difficulty but it's what I want for you." I cried. We cuddled. I felt Jesus with us.

My prayer for us all today:

Mark 9:24 English Standard Version (ESV)
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out[a] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”'

Jesus let us have joy and peace and life but more than all these things help us remember, these are only gifts, not the giver. God let us have you, let us desire you. Lord, burn away all in us that refuses to surrender to your love, grace and mercy, for my hands cannot receive your gift of life while I clench my fists obstinately closed.

Lord thank you that you work all things for your glory and our good, thank you that you are a good Father, thank you that you stand with us in our suffering, and that you promise to wipe every tear and bring justice to every offense. Thank you that in Jesus, who lived, died and rose again, we have our ransom.

Father help me to believe and seek faithfully the heart described by the Apostle Paul.

Philippians 2:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

#wonderfullydifficult
#grateful #noteasy #lifeabundant #praiseJesus