One of my favorite stories involving my niece happened fairly recently. It was four in the morning and she woke up. Then that precious little two year old did what most two year olds would do, she cried out for her Mommy.

What makes this story funny is what Shepherd said when she decided what she wanted should be done. Standing in her crib, that darling girl called out, "Mummy. Mummy. Sheppy's awake! Sheppy's awake now! Mummy! Sheppy play! Mum-Mee. I awake!" Save the hour, my brother & sister-in-law were rolling on their sides trying to keep from laughing out loud.

So sure was my niece that it was time for someone to pay attention to her, so determined was she to get herself out of bed that she continued to holler for her Mom. Now you don't even have to have kids to know that 4 AM is not the time for a two year old to be getting out of bed. No matter what she insists or how sure she is that she should be awake, we know better. In fact, we would be crying out to her parents - "WAIT! Do not let her out of bed yet!" We know that she needs to stay in bed; we know that she needs to get a few more hours of sleep so that she is properly prepared for the day.

As I was giggling to myself over that story this morning, God gently prodded at me, "Do you think you are so different? Are you not often so sure that you know what is best for yourself, so impatient to have what you want that you stand where I have put you & holler at me?" Ouch! That bit of truth stung a little!

God led me to a conversation He had with Job. The Lord asked him a series of questions beginning with, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7) So humbled by the end of God’s questioning was Job that he replied, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:3)

God, who made heaven and earth, is sovereign. He has the right to rule His creatures as He sees fit. And He is gracious to plan good things for us! He declares, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!” (Jer. 29:11) Who am I, then, to question what He does and the pace at which He works out His plans?

I am a child who wants to get out of bed too soon, but my sweet Father knows that it’s not time. He knows that I need to stay where He has me, because He alone knows what lies ahead for me. He alone has the authority to name it and call it good. My Father knows the at this moment, I need to stay where He's put me so that I can grow and rest and be prepared for what is next.

Oh Lord, give me the wisdom to be here, in this moment, where You have put me and the faith to trust that Your plans for me are good.

My Unbelief

Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24

"Help me overcome my unbelief." What a simple, humble prayer, and to me, one of the most comforting verses in Scripture. I'm so thankful God allowed it in! How often do I feel that way, and then Satan slithers in with his bag of tricks and speaks to me. "Even now with all that God has done for you, you do not believe? Ha! You don't even have the faith of a mustard seed! How worthless you must be to the Almighty! Why would He possibly choose to love someone who forgets that she serves a God who promises she can do all things through Him?" (Phil 4:13) So, I think God sweetly inspired the writer of Mark to include this conversation with Christ.

Here was a man who was there - who'd seen the Lord, heard of the miracles, maybe even met someone who'd been healed. He knew Jesus could do the same for his child. He knew it, or else he wouldn't have sought out Jesus and the Disciples. But even in knowing it, even in having been witness to the many wonders and having heard the very words of Christ, even then, when push came to shove, that sweet, humble man, pleading for his son's healing looks Jesus right in the eyes and begs, "Help me overcome my unbelief!"

How often do I live as a practical atheist, knowing the truth of God, yet doubting it simultaneously? Why do I so stubbornly hold to the notion of the finite when God is infinite? How difficult it is for me to wrap my mind around an Almighty, not a Kindamighty, God!

Yet, He beckons to me, "Seek Me and live." (Amos 5:4). He promises over and over again, “Do not be afraid. I am with you.” (Gen. 26:24, Josh. 3:7, Is. 41:10, 43:5, Jer. 1:8, 1:19, 15:20, 30:11, 42:11, 46:28, Hag. 1:13, 2:24, Matt. 28:20…side note – I loved Jon’s insight into God repeating Himself, The Battle of I) He offers me rest, counsel, wisdom, peace, hope and a future (Matt 11:29, Ps. 32:8, James 1:5, Phil. 4:6-7, Jer. 29:11) The Lord of all declares, “Call to me and I will answer and show you great and mighty things!” (Jer.33:3)

WOW! What would happen if, like Abraham, we were people who did not waiver through unbelief, but were “fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised”? (Rmns 4:20-21) Can you imagine? What if we started to live daily as if we were convinced that we are precious and honored in His sight? (Is. 43:4) Truly, can you imagine? To be precious and honored in the sight of I AM! What if we understood that God is for us? And "If God is for us, who can be against us?"(Rmns.8:31)

Perhaps we need to pray the humble prayer of the man asking Christ to heal his child, "Help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24) Lord, may we be fully persuaded that You have the power to do what You have promised.