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THE BEARDED PROMISE
Imagine hair growing out of your face that is as long as people’s head hair. It gets everywhere and you see it all the time. Imagine you are constantly reminded of this bush on your face as you wash your hands, shower, eat food, and as you casually scratch your face. You wake up and people say that you look homeless and that you need to shave. Food always gets stuck in your beard and you find out by the people around you that point at their face. As annoying and uncomfortable it is, this is a promise that I made before I left the states. This promise is called “the bearded promise”. I told the boys back home that I discipled the past 5 years that I wouldn’t shave my beard until I returned home.
It has been quite the journey this year and I want you to know I have been reminded of the bearded promise at least 5 times a day. On one account I get mistaken for a Muslim so many times I have lost count. Although, I would say it has been used as a great way to share my faith with others. They first think I am a Muslim, then I surprise them by sharing the Gospel. There have been times where I wanted to give up and throw in the towel. Times when I just wanted to take a razor so easily to the face and just forget about it. It is thought that easily comes to mind and I knew that it would take all of the bad things that came with it away. There have been times where I have shouted, “UGH WHY DID I MAKE THAT PROMISE!? OR I SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND JUST DO IT NOW!“. BUT, I have remained faithful through it. What has kept me from shaving the Chewbacca bundle on my face despite family and friends pleading with me to do so is the Lord and my love for these boys.
He reminds me daily that there is something significant about keeping promises. Keeping your word and following through with it now matter the circumstance, situation, or the trials and tribulations you face. Whenever I felt like giving up, I am reminded of what Christ did on the cross for me. (John 19:18) Christ didn’t ever give up us. (2 Timothy 4:7) By his entire life that he lived, he believed and had faith. No matter what the circumstance, tests, or how he felt in a moment in time. He was obedient until the point of death and he kept his promise. What the father asked him to do he went ahead and did it. I know through his sacrifice, there will NEVER be a sacrifice I have to make that will be greater than his. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. There will never be anything greater than that. So in the same way, I desire the boys to see and understand this by this example. I want them and others to understand that there will NEVER BE EVER BE a struggle or sacrifice that will be greater than the Lords. Just like the Lord to keep their words. (Matthew 5:37) That is the lesson the Lord wants to teach them.
The Lord is teaching me how to teach children his word and basic principles that show them what God’s character is like. (Proverbs 22:6) When I have children, when that day comes, I know that I will have had practice doing these things as I have been disciplined children this entire time. The Lord is preparing me for my future now and the future generation. Even though this is something that is not apart of the race, I wanted to inform everyone as to why I look like a savage man. I want everyone to know that I have been dying to shave but this is a promise that goes beyond just face and hair. It goes beyond the promise I made. At the root, the Lord has asked me to teach them what it looks like to be committed and devoted. To not waver in word but have integrity. To sacrifice for the Lord because he first sacrificed for us. I will continue to live this out. I won’t cut the beard until I am reunited with them. God is faithful. Trust him. His promises are yes and amen!
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him, the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
2 Corinthians 1:20
