Feeding On His Faithfulness...And Prayers for Sweet Stellan

I am in love...completely head over heels in love. Smitten with a blue-eyed bundle of beautiful baby boy sweetness named Stellan. I'm sure you've heard of him. And I hope you are on your knees today storming the gates of heaven on his behalf. That is where you'll find me...on my knees...praying as a mother who has knelt beside the hospital bed of her own babies...praying as I would for one of my own. Praying for the heart of the boy who has captured mine. Today, as Stellan faces a very risky surgery, we are praying and wearing orange in support of him. I hope you will join us.
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Today, the simplicity of His word strikes me. Our God, in His infinite wisdom did not make His truth difficult or elusive. He speaks to our hearts and His instruction is so simple. He gives so much and requires so little.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
~Psalm 37:3-4

Can't you just feel the peace washing over you as you read His words? He wants us to trust Him and do good. And then...we get to dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. We don't have to strive or place unnecessary expectations or demands on ourselves. We don't have to measure up to a standard or fix all of our imperfections before we come to Him. We just dwell in the land and feed...like little sheep being cared for by a loving, faithful Shepherd, who longs to meet our needs.

What's next? Certainly some sort of mountain-climbing feat...some great sacrifice. Nope. Delight. Delight yourself...in the Lord. Delight sounds good...feeding and delight. I think I can handle that. And then...He shall give you the desires of your heart. Oh...He is good. Do you know what I feel when I read these words? Rest. Hope. Peace. I am cared for. Loved...loved beyond description.

As we turn to I Peter, I could write pages on these scriptures, but I will stick with just a couple. Some that are special to me. Words I have clung to...promises that kept me from drowning...more than once. Promises I will doubtless cling to again.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls. ~ I Peter 1:6-9

In the midst of the trial it is no small thing to rejoice. And frankly, who is thrilled about facing pain, sorrow, illness, or loss? No one would say, "Yes...bring it on." No one asks to suffer or does it with excitement. But, there is hope in the midst of sorrow if we look past the pain and fix our eyes on the One who saved us...the One who will carry us...the One with a plan and a purpose for every moment of our lives. And, even though our loving God is not the author of our suffering, He is able to use our trials to refine us...to reveal more of Himself to us...to draw us near to Him. It is in the place of clinging to Him alone that I have learned that He is truly all I need. And He is truly all He says He is. I wouldn't know that if I hadn't walked in the place of such desperate sorrow. I wouldn't know the peace of being carried, or the inexpressible beauty that could come from the most hideous of ashes. There is a sweetness that I would not know of had I not tasted the sufficient grace that was fed to me in the darkest valley. With each new trial comes a new taste of His sufficiency and love. And all of it has developed in me a desperation for more of Him...a longing for the promises we have in Him...a desire for heaven and all it's redeeming glory.

There is much more on my heart as I write, but I will leave you with this:

But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.
~Psalm 37:39-40