In these past four years we've dealt with ups and downs as I'm sure most couples do; financial challenges, our own health issues, and family health crises and death. It has pushed us to either stick by our agreement to continue to say "Yes", or to walk away and try to start a new life.We are still here, and it's because of Jesus' grace and a little bit of stubbornness (we're both incredibly stubborn!) that we keep holding hands and walking forward. And... we really do like each other... a lot. ;)
Today, my sweet friend Megan shared a devotional with me that resonated in the deep places of my heart about saying "Yes" to the important things in life - primarily, saying "Yes" to God and His promises.
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. (2 Corinthians 1:20)If “all the promises of God find their Yes in [Jesus],” then to trust him now in the present is to believe that his promises will come true.
Those are not two separate faiths — trusting him, and believing in his promises. Believing in Jesus means believing that he keeps his word. Being satisfied in the crucified and risen Jesus now includes the belief that at every future moment, to all eternity, nothing will separate us from his love, or keep him from working all things together for good.
Putting it all together, I would say that the spiritual beauty we need to embrace is the beauty of God that will be there for us in the future, certified for us by the glorious grace of the past.
We need to taste now the spiritual beauty of God in all his past achievements — especially the death and resurrection of Christ for our sins — and in all his promises. Our confidence and trust must be in all that God himself will be for us in the next moment, and in the next month, and in the endless ages of eternity — “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
It is he and he alone who will satisfy the soul in the future. And it is the future that has to be secured and satisfied with spiritual riches of glory, if we are to live the radical Christian lives that Christ calls us to live here and now.
If our present enjoyment of Christ now — our present faith — does not have in it the Yes to all God’s promises, it will not embrace the power for radical service in the strength that God (in every future moment) will supply (1 Peter 4:11).
My prayer is that reflecting like this on the essence of faith will help us avoid superficial, oversimplified statements about believing the promises of God. It is a deep and wonderful thing.
I think one thing Joel and I have learned about saying "Yes" to God and His promises is that it doesn't mean you get everything you ask for. It's not about praying harder, better, or more fervently to get what our hearts desire. That has proved to be a fruitless and superficial way of praying and living. For us, it has meant that God keeps us going. He keeps us faithful to each other and gives us strength to
I love this passage from the devotional: "Our confidence and trust must be in all that God himself will be for us in the next moment, and in the next month, and in the endless ages of eternity."
When I really stop to think about that statement, I am humbled and brought to tears. How could the King of the universe promise to fill and fulfill my every moment with His presence and goodness?
He does make everything work for my good because HE is GOOD, and when He fills my every moment, He has filled it with goodness.
That doesn't mean I always feel happy or awesome. There are moments and days I struggle through. And you know what, that's okay. I can struggle. I can go through the muck and come out on the other side because He is going through it with me. I am never alone.
His goodness gives me hope. Hope. Hope that no matter what lies ahead, I am not alone. I will be given strength and grace, and I WILL see beauty unfold in my life and those around me as I say "Yes" to His love and redemption in my life.
