Trusting God’s Heart
For those of you who have just dropped by, I’m digging for treasure in God’s Word this month. Matthew 6:33 promises, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” I think that “all these things” includes the treasures I’m seeking in the diaper pail –the jewels of joy, nuggets of wisdom and pearls of peace–but before I seek the gems, I must seek the Giver of good gifts (James 1:17). I’d be honored if you’d join me!
Abraham’s “test” provides a vivid picture of a parent who truly placed his child into the hands of the Potter. Astounded by God’s seemingly insane plan, Abraham surrendered his right to script the story of Isaac’s life. The author of Hebrews reveals the secret to Abraham’s unthinkable surrender. “It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice… Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.’ (Hebrews 11:17-18) Parenting, at the very core of the call, is a walk of faith. It is a day by day journey of surrendering those which we love most to One who loves them even more. Abraham was able to surrender Isaac into the Potter’s hands because he knew the Potter’s heart! A lifetime of walking with the Lord had taught this great Patriarch to trust even when he did not understand.
In his phenomenal book, The Shack, William Young weaves a plot in which Mac, a bitter and wounded man, meets God for a weekend. As they talk over breakfast one morning, Papa (God’s intimate name in this tale) challenges Mac with this observation: “The real underlying flaw in your life…is that you don’t think that I am good. If you knew I was good and that everything-the means, the end, and all the processes of individual lives- is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not always understand what I am doing, you would trust me.”(126).
How completely do you trust the Potter? Perhaps Abraham’s secret could be ours as well. If we choose to walk with God day by day, seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33), we will trust His heart even when, in the darkest of nights, we can’t see his hands.
Parent’s Pondering: Do I trust God with my children’s lives in ALL circumstances? Confess any lack of trust between you and the Potter. Ask God for the faith you need to release your children into His hands. Read the desperate parent’s plea for more faith in Mark 9:24 and make it your battle cry as you take steps towards trusting God unconditionally.
