Hello, My Friend!
I’m back from Cal-i-for-ni-yay! My dear grandog, Stella, is back with her rightful owner, my son. Life is back to “normal.” I love what Patsy Clairmont said: “‘Normal’ is just a setting on your dryer.”
I was all set to tell you a funny story about my mom today, but then I came across something that changed my mind. I keep a journal that I try to write in every morning. I like to pick a book from the Bible and read a chapter each morning, taking note of what particular verse seems to “bonk” me on the head the hardest. Then, I’ll write out that verse and let my pen take over. I think it’s one of the ways I can listen to God—what He tells me through my daily journaling. I’ve got a basket full of these journals.
Anyway, this morning, I was reading Romans, chapter 4. I was getting a bit overwhelmed by Paul’s blathering on and on. Did I just call the great Apostle Paul a blatherer?? Sorry, Paul! Then I happened upon verse 18, and suddenly the blathering stopped, and the dust cleared. Here’s what it said:
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed . . . . “
OK, that’s just part of the verse, but that was the part I read and went, “YES! I want what he’s having!”
Paul was talking about how God promised Abraham that he’d be the “father of many nations.” In Genesis, God tells Abraham (still Abram at that point) to go outside and “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them—so shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5). Now, that’s a lot of kids. The crazier part is that Abraham and his wife were no spring chickens. They weren’t even late winter chickens; they were just about ready to have their pictures on the Smucker’s 100th Birthday label!
Have you heard of any 100-year-olds having a baby lately?
Sounds impossible, right? That’s the cool thing about this verse! Against all hope, in hope, Abraham still believed. I just thought you might need to hear that today. I mean, come on, you’re almost 100, your wife is in the same age bracket, and you are still hopeful and believe that God will come through with His promise of children? I guess it’s more about the Promiser than the promisee. God is always faithful to come through on His promises.
That very short part-of-a-verse gave me hope. I can’t even say what for. It’s sort of a fill-in-the-blank. It’s going to be different for everyone. Maybe this verse isn’t meant to satisfy someone’s desire for a fabulous new sportscar or a million dollars, but perhaps you’ve been praying for a particular something to happen for oh-so-long now, but it seems like it’s just never going to happen.
Against all hope, believe.
What seems impossible to you? Or even just “highly unlikely”? God is the God of the Impossible. Sounds like a song! (Listen to it here.) Nothing is impossible for God.
And that’s it! This is a shorter message than usual from me, but there’s not more to add. Can I pray with you for the hard things? Let me know, and I’ll join you in praying for what seems impossible.
I’ll write that funny story about my mom next week. But for now . . .
Against all hope, believe.
Written with love – – – Patti XOXO
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul
– and sings the tunes without the words – and never stops at all.”
Emily Dickinson