Day 24

Anonymous | Re:Hope Church

My answer to prayer is seeing the work God has done in my family. Three years ago my brothers were all struggling in their faith. Each of them was confident that God exists, but they were all holding Him away at some kind of distance. Because they didn’t believe He was good, didn’t believe He deserved their attention, or just wanted to fit in with the world more. They were all at different stages; from lukewarm to considering walking away. It really broke my heart to see them struggling but I didn’t know how to help so I prayed. 

God met with each one of them at a weeklong camp, and individually they all had such a powerful meeting with God that totally wrecked them. God showed them in different ways — through miracles or incredibly accurate words of knowledge — that He is a good God who loves them. Since then they’re examples to me in the way that they shine for Jesus and I’m so proud of them and grateful to God for the transformation He made in their lives. 

I wanted to share this because I know so many people have family members who don’t follow God or have backslidden. He’s a good shepherd and no one is too far gone for him to reach.

Dawn Henderson | Re:Hope Southside

I’ve been reflecting on the fact that I don’t share very often in church about answered prayer. And when God prompts me to, my answer is always Lord, I don’t have a testimony yet. I don’t have the guy or the job or the house or my kids coming to know Jesus. I’m waiting for the miracle. When I have the miracle, when I have the testimony, that’s when I’ll share. 

I’m learning to wait and I’m learning patience and I’m learning to trust in God’s timing I thought — all great things to learn – but He opened my eyes to the understanding that I do have a testimony right now.

The testimony isn’t the guy or the job or the house or the kids. The testimony is my faithfulness. He has been with me every step of the way. 

He has transformed my life in the way that has given me purpose, and he has given me worthy work. He has opened my eyes to the wonder of His grace, the beauty of this life. He has healed my brokenness as I’ve waited. I’m not going to be healed when I get the guy or the job or the house or the kids. I am healed right now because He brought me peace and if I hold it I am His. And it was like a moment that I’ll never forget. I wasn’t in church. I was just sitting and realising… oh, yes, God, it’s always been you. You’ve always been it. You’re it.

Sometimes we can make our story about the thing. It’s not the thing. It’s not the thing because you might not get the thing in this life. Our stories are about God’s faithfulness. That’s the only story worth passing down generation to generation. God is faithful.

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What aspect of God’s character is being revealed to you in the waiting? Take a moment to cherish this and thank Him today!