It was her passion. As she began to speak of her life, she became emotional. She started to weep as she pulled her bottom lip down to reveal the scarring of a fresh beating. She raised her two granddaughters after her daughter-in-law acquired breast cancer and passed away. Seeing his wife’s health declining, the father couldn’t see her as an asset anymore so he decided to pack up and leave.
The family lived on $1.5 a day thanks to her daily labor as a cleaning maid at a local hotel. Actually, it was less than that after her son would take money to feed his liquid addiction.
This woman lost her daughter, saw her son turn his back on his own children, who she is now caring for, receives physical abuse and can barely support her household.
As I scanned the room with only half clarity, blinking through my watered-over eyes, my gaze halted at a picture. A picture of Jesus with the words “Jesus, I trust in you” plastered at the bottom. Compared to the size of the house, this picture was rather large.
A nudge.
Having peace but also feeling a potential regret about to spew from my lips I asked, “Do you still believe this even when your son beats you?”
To my dismay she replied, “Yes, those are the only words I can say when he beats me. I repeat them over and over.”
She wept as she shared her burden with us. I shed two tears for every one tear she shed.
Why, God? How in the world is this situation bringing you any glory? They live in a hut the size of my bedroom growing up. They don’t always consume three meals a day. Everyone in their house receives a beating. They are chained and shackled. Beaten, bruised, broken, burned, bandaged, and bound by fear.
The answer? I don’t know. And that’s okay because I don’t need to know.
The Bible doesn’t say, “Ask and all my wisdom for every situation will be granted to you.” Where does our faith lie when we’re never pushed in situations that require big faith?
Imagine this, you just purchased the sexiest Lamborghini you ever laid eyes on. Every day you wash it with care and put the shiniest coat of wax on it. You sit in it and imagine yourself whipping around town displaying your gem to the city. But you never drive it. You don’t want to potentially get a nick in it. There’s risk in taking this puppy for a spin. If you never drive it, you won’t crash it, but you’ll also never know the power in it.
This can be similar to our faith. If we are in this state of pursuing Christ, then it is essential for us to display our faith. If we call ourselves followers of Jesus, we need to show it. When we don’t display our faith, the redemption, love and freedom Christ offers, isn’t displayed.
God will show up whenever he wants to but it is our responsibility to put him on a platform.
“You are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-15)
This woman displays her faith when she’s literally in the midst of the pit. She’s not standing on the edge or hovering over this pit anymore, she’s deep in it, and all the while she’s displaying her faith.
So, I encourage you to get that Lamborghini out of your garage and show off its sexiness. When you are courageous and willing to take a risk, people will recognize the power and freedom as you drive it.
Who knows, maybe you’ll see them cruise by you in their sexy Lamborghini one day.
