Today’s scripture: Hebrews 11:4-8 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Sue Robinson):
As I read through the verses in this scripture passage, the Bible says that these people lived by faith. The words, “by faith,” are written five times in this passage and even more in the verses before and after. I thought about how hard it is sometimes to have faith that God is with us and knows our needs. When we are having calm, stress-free times, it is easy to spout platitudes about faith. It’s so easy to tell others to “just believe and things will all work out.”
But what about in our hard times? Do we still continue to have faith when we don’t see the results?
When I was first married, my only wish was to start a family. But months turned into years without any pregnancy. I knew in my heart that God intended for me to be a mother. That is what I had prepared for all of my life. I did have faith and continued to pray for a child. All around me, friends and family were starting their families. Some were even expecting second children. I continued to tell everyone who would listen that God was going to bring a child into our home.
But after ten years of waiting, my faith was starting to falter. I knew God had promised me a child, but was I just deluding myself? Maybe I just had wishful thinking and God hadn’t promised this to me after all.
God does honor our faith! We were miraculously added to a waiting list at an adoption agency; and by another miracle, a newborn infant was placed in our home. Our caseworker said she had been with the agency for two years and this was the first infant she had placed. Our son, Billy, couldn’t have been more perfectly suited to our family. He was and continues to be every mother’s dream child. (Well, at 36, he is hardly a child now!) God even blessed us two years later with another son, Mikey.
But what if that hadn’t happened? Do we still live a life of faith?
Do we continue to live “by faith” when all looks lost? I think God wants just that!
Prayer for the day: Dear Lord, help us to live by faith no matter what the circumstances. You prove yourself over and over again to be faithful. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.