Lately, I have been reading through Genesis and God has been blowing my mind. The Old Testament is pretty rad! So many beautiful reminders of God’s plan, purpose, and faithfulness! Because He has always known and remains trustworthy! {Genesis 22:14} Covenants between His people and His kiddos are sealed with love and unwavering security; and our greatest-the hope of Jesus, firm and secure! {Hebrews 6:13-20}
Promises and faithfulness have been two key words for the season of life that I am in. You see, as a recent missionary off the field and young adult–the possibilities of what’s to come remain limitless and a little mysterious. If I had to give it a picture, I would definitely say I feel like a young sunflower in bloom, but not quite tall enough to see the fields around me and what awaits. I can see above and the faithfulness of the glory of the skies of my Beloved, but not yet what is to come.
It is a new season. As one of my sweet friends put in, in her and I’s whimsical ways, it must be how a rainbow feels. Sunny and rainy. A mix of what was and what is to come, but a promised beauty of the sky.
So many heart tugs; teaching, the sweet time at home, the nations, a future spouse, the next steps. But I am quickly coming to see that these are my next steps; this season of “in-between” to some, it purposed in His plan. So often we all want to be mature sunflowers and never experience the growing process.
After seeing how sweet this time is, I truly believe the Lord has two great lessons from it all. Lessons that I take as sweet pursuit after my heart; firstly, Jesus is the most precious of all treasures (Him plus nothing is everything) & Jesus minus everything is still everything), and secondly, contentment is a gift and the growth of the believed promises to come. To be content no matter what the lot, because like Abraham, Noah, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and so many others it is a growth of faith. (Hebrews 11:39-40)
“because God had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is complete in Him], apart from us.” v. 40, Heb.11!
Wow! Because God wanted us, all of us-Jews and Gentiles alike. Not only are we one in the body of Christ with all of those alive, but also one with all those who ever lived and placed their trust in the Lord. It takes all of us to be perfect in Him (footnotes, NLT). He reached out, to us, those separated from Him to be brought near through the blood of Jesus and to be united with the body. To be one and made complete in Christ.
As an educator by trade, I love what I do. But even more than a teacher (which is wonderful), I am a daughter (ever more wonderful). I am not yet sure what the Lord has in store for this next season, so I wait and as my little sunflower self grows, I grow with faith in and through Jesus. Faith, contentment, promises, and faithfulness all tie together. God’s promises remind us of His faithfulness [which remains secure, without waver] and leads to contentment in Christ and continued growing of our faith.
Are you amidst some other sunflowers? Great! The men and women of the Old Testament have much to teach us, The Word has much to teach us, Holy Spirit has much to reveal and Jesus has much glory to receive!
For now I am on a hot air balloon ride, enjoying seeing more and more of His grace for my life. And what a view!
Seasons of promise remain!
