These titles of published books[i] fascinate me. I’m not even sure where I picked them up in my travels. Perhaps I saw them at a Christian bookstore. However, it made me think how evidence of hope and faith can appear as sudden bright lights in an otherwise gray dreary day.
If you’re like me, you can go for long periods of time without experiencing much encouragement concerning unsaved friends or family members. Some of them you’ve prayed for incessantly for years, even decades.
Occasionally, I just get fed up and become impatient when I don’t see what I consider to be progress. I grow snippy with the Lord and share my frustrations with Him.
Well, Lord, should I just stop praying and accept as your will that they aren’t going to come to you? I mean, I know it isn’t according to my timing, but it has been twenty-some years. I would like to see it happen in my lifetime, but You know the time is growing short.
Recently, when I got to this point, instead of complaining about no results, I point-blank asked for some sign of His working. I mean, I know He cares about my loved ones and isn’t willing for any to be lost[ii]. I merely want a glimmer of hope. Just a little something to keep my hope boat afloat.
When this prayer is answered, it’s always unexpected, and although small, it strikes me like a bolt of lightning. There it is–my sign of encouragement! A reason for hope; a small victory–a flash of faith. It might be from a passing comment made at the dinner table, or a family member’s unexpected praises. It could be a gesture of appreciation from someone you’ve been serving.
Usually these events leave me in a state of shock and speechless. The phenomena passes and I am left to ponder—Was that You, Lord? Did that comment mean what I thought it meant?
The tiny candle of hope that almost sputtered out has renewed its flame and burns bright again. My heart is full of gratitude for answered prayer and God’s faithfulness. I can go on refreshed and renewed with my glimmers of hope and flashes of faith.
[i] “Glimmers of Hope” by Simone Diggs; “Flashes of Faith” by Henry Hanson
[ii] 2 Peter 3:9 CEV
Dianna
Sharing the Fruit of Maturity
