I wasn’t there, so I wouldn’t have known. How God spoke to Abram and showed him the stars, redirected him through a famine, got him out of a sticky mess he made, led him to a new home, protected him through battles. But I can know because I read Abram’s story.
I wasn’t there in the crowds to see a woman reach desperately for Jesus’s hem, to witness a town’s fear when he cured an unstable man, or to share in the awe as he raised a little girl back to her feet. I wasn’t there, so I wouldn’t have known. But I can know because I read about their stories.
Praise you, Lord.
These are stories of faith and desperation and hope and messing up and rejection. These are stories of people’s faith in God, and they are stories of God’s faithfulness.
Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” (Genesis 15:1, NLT)
34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” (Mark 5:34, NLT)
36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” (Mark 5:36, NLT)
19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” (Mark 5:19, NLT)
These are just a few examples in a few chapters of a very big story of God’s faithfulness, trustworthiness, integrity and power. When I read these and other stories, they remind me when fear, hurt, uncertainty want to grab my attention that God is in control, he sees me, and he loves me.
40 The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” 42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. 43 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:40-43, NLT)
Sometimes Jesus tells people to share their stories. Sometimes he gives strict orders not to tell anyone–but they do. It’s hard to keep good news to yourself.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 