My friend Maggie has a saying that I love in times of worry or stress. She says, “You don’t have to worry, amiga, God is always on time!” So true – He designed this moment, this day, and He designed this girl to be here for such a time as this. He’s already got it covered! The need, the dream, whatever the request, He’s got it covered.
God speaks to me in what I call “Abrahamic” language, as he speaks clearly to me through the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. For a few years now, he’s been intentionally leading this family (well, we’ve actually been listening eagerly in the last few years!), and He’s never let us go. He led us here to Texas and the incredible, precious people He wanted in our lives, and wanted us to touch. He led us to this land of “milk and honey,” this “Holy Land,” as Pastor Lee lovingly calls it – for a time of refreshing, relationship-building, lifting of our spirits, and increasing our faith.
Now, he’s calling us back out. Back to the desert, back to those who are hungry and dry, back to what he has told us is our “mission field.” When He spoke to me in 2008 about Abraham leaving the land of his fathers to go to the place He would show him, I had no idea He was bringing us here to this oasis! Here, where we have healed as a family, our hearts knitting together in new and powerful ways. Here, where we have learned to give, truly give of our resources. Here, where we have had the eyes of our spirit opened and eyes of our flesh closed tighter than ever before in our lives.
Then, late last year, when He spoke to me “Can you leave your ‘Lot’ (Abraham’s nephew) behind, Bess?” I knew He was getting us ready to go, but I had NO IDEA that it was there! He was asking me if I could give up the good land, and keep trudging on towards the dry, desert land in search of His promise.
Early this year, He continued to gently and lovingly layer us, preparing us for this. He spoke through a precious Pastor of a church here in Katy during our “Great Church Adventure.” The word was about Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his promise, Isaac. I wept, as the Holy Spirit convicted me deeply, and softened my heart at the same time. My life is not my own, it is not my own.
Abraham had finally received this promise, after hanging in there during a long, trying, life of pursuing the promise of the promise! Now, after all the struggle to keep the faith, the long days and sad losses, God was asking him to kill this dream – to take the life of his only son. God must’ve watched in sadness as His faithful one, Abraham, trudged dejectedly towards the place of sacrifice. He waited on Abraham as the fire was prepared, Isaac was bound, and ultimately, the knife was raised in the air. The obedience was thorough, the sacrifice voluntary, the act completed in Abraham’s heart. That is when God stepped in and spared him his son, and his dream. God was right on time.
