A faith not tested is a faith not trusted. I have heard that several times here lately. I wonder what the person was going through when the Lord downloaded that beautiful piece of information. I can tell you what is on my heart right now. I have two sons that are enlisted in the military and both of them have jobs that will take them to the front lines of war. The worry level has changed. It's not like them learning to drive or moving away it feels so much bigger than that.
When my son went to Australia for college, I was concerned, but I knew his surroundings and felt secure to a point. Yes, he had dangers that all of us face, but he was in a Christian college surrounded by godly people. This truth comforted me when I was missing him.
Ryley, my middle son, left last year for the army and has had to learn to stand in his faith alone. His faith goes under-fire as well as his purity. And he bears the words of his fellow soldiers with more grace than I would give them. Our encouragement to him has been to remember Daniel and Joseph. Having their faith tested to the very core and standing firm. During some of the most wicked times of history, those young men had their faith stretched to the max and stood strong.
I know what it is to have the fire of faith refine you, But you know, when its your children going through this and not yourself it just plain stinks.
Here recently my oldest son enlisted in the army and his job description is quite exciting and quite dangerous. He still has a few months here before he leaves for boot-camp, but I am already loosing sleep over his choice of work.
As their faith is tested, so is mine. I know that God is God and He keeps those we love under the shadow of His wing. I also know God thinks eternally and this life is just a vapor.
A few years ago the Lord gave me a picture of a heart that had hinges on it. His message to me was this "Mother with a hinged heart. It will break less and be able to take the shifts of life."
Similar to the way we see highways with giant brackets hinging them together to take the quakes of the earth. It will shake and ripple but it wont collapse.
As our children get older the fears get bigger. It is no longer the bully on the playground we are upset about. No, our loss of sleep is used up praying for them as they work the graveyard shift. Our time on our knees has become more than them making friends in school and fitting in. Our prayer have now turned to praying for them to stand alone when they don't. Our midnight candle burns vigilante when we know their lives are changing faster than they can keep up. When they are walking down the isle and their hearts are filled with hopes and dreams, and we know from first hand experience whats around the corner.
Proverbs 24:10 If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.
This scripture is for us as parents and for our Children. To raise them to not faint when life is unfair, and for us to not fear when our faith is tested because their faith is tested.
Tested when our children are no longer under our watchful eye. Tested when they make choices you have advised them against. Tested when you know they are able to succeed, but they are not convinced. Tested when they are not walking in the ways they have been raised. Our tested faith becomes trusted faith when we know whom we have believed and are persuaded that He is able to keep what we have committed to Him until that Day. 2 Timothy 1:2
A hinged heart is a heart that has learned to trust a God who allows us all to be tested or sifted. We as parents have our faith tested when they are out of our care but not out of our prayers. And our children become familiar with the Father we have learned to trust with everything precious and dear to us...them.
