Faith is the confidence
that what we hope for
will actually happen;
it gives us confidence
about things
we cannot see.
I recently saw a widow's walk for the first time in my life. I've read the romantic stories in which a beautiful young woman spends her days pacing the rooftop watching for her beloved sailor to return from sea. Many of them clung stubbornly to the hope of their beloved's return for decades. I can't imagine seeing the mast of a ship appearing on the horizon, feeling the quickening of the heart in hope, only to have it dashed again and again.
Or maybe I can. There are things that I've entrusted to my Heavenly Father and in my heart know that He won't disappointment me. But the Scripture says hope deferred (delayed) maketh the heart sick. It's very true for me! I personally can't live pining for some far off promise without something inside of me dying everytime I "spot a mast on the horizon." Maybe I'm just not romantic enough. lol
I kind of think that if the sailor did come home he'd want to come to a place prepared for him and kept in good repair. So my solution is to stay busy making preparations during the waiting period. If I'm believing for an answered prayer, it would be shortsighted of me to expect something I'm not prepared for.
Today, I believe I'll take some time to do a little inventory in my life to see what skills or characteristics I need to implement in order to receive the things I hope for. Could it be that's faith in action?
