Have you ever NOT received something you wanted or planned for, only to later receive something BETTER?
Maybe you didn’t get that trinket you wanted as a child but instead saved your money and later were able to buy something of far greater worth. Maybe you were running late for an out of town meeting only to discover that had you been on time you would have likely been in a major accident on the interstate. Maybe you gave up your right to custom coffee once a week and instead found greater satisfaction in giving hope to a child in a third world country through a monthly sponsorship.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie, Facing The Giants, is when the coach’s wife came out of the health clinic. Expecting positive results she had instead been given heart breaking news. With tears in her eyes, she looked to the heavens and said to her God, “And still I will praise you.”
What? Your hopes are dashed and STILL you give praise? Is that really possible? In Hebrews 11, Paul uses the phrase “by faith” over 20 times to describe the lives of many ordinary people who lived trusting their extraordinary God…even when there was no evidence for that faith. And here’s the kicker Paul writes: “These were all commended for their faith, yet NONE of them received what had been promised.” Really? We understand delayed gratification: Give up some now so you can get more later. Experience some pain now and so build your character in a far greater way later. But NOT getting what was promised?
Wait; there’s more. Paul writes: “…none of them received what had been promised. God had planned SOMETHING BETTER.” Something better than a pain-free life, better than a cute house or big retirement plan, better than your biggest dream. Something so much better that you might not even see it in this life, and yet it is still worth living for.
Before my wife said, “I do” 40 years ago, she had faith in a young man with an unknown future. She saw something that couldn’t yet be really seen. As parents we dedicated our children to the Lord, not knowing their future paths. In the face of heartache we must look beyond the daily ‘evidence’ to celebrate not only today but the unknown tomorrow.
Great faith is built by trusting God for small things one day at a time. What can’t you yet see that is worth living for…by faith?
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1