I like reading in the Proverbs. It's a good one. Full of wisdom from above for me to trade up for. Full of reasonable, logical words on how to conduct my life's daily affairs. I enjoy it till i get to certain verses that i don't like...or can't understand. Here's one that always perplexed me...and kinda gnawed at me from the inside out.
Proverbs 31:25b...SHE SMILES AT THE FUTURE.
Now ain't that a pretty picture...and a good thought. Me sitting around my daily life...gazing into the unknown future...and smiling. Hmmmmm.
My question for many years was..."And how does that one work LORD? How in this world can i smile at the future when i don't know what the future holds? How can i smile at something that i'm not sure i'm gonna like? And how can i smile at the future when i've got all these kids that will likely be there...and i have no idea what their choices will be...or what sufferings they are gonna have to face..which is the greatest heartache for me by far. YOUR asking me to smile blankly at the unknown? Don't seem right."
So back in 2006 i went on a journey to discover how, in this world, i was gonna look a little bit like this Proverbs 31 lady, who went about smiling at her future. And here is a portion of what i found.
I discovered that JESUS will go to my kids, even in the worst of places and HE will minister to them right where they are at. And that HE will call to them from there. HIS love is never bound or confined or limited. HE will go anywhere...anytime...and meet my kids at any point...in their future.
And here's the proof...Matthew 9:10-13 (NAS)
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
I found that JESUS, WHO is WISDOM from GOD takes HIS stand at every crossroad my kids will come up to in their lives. HE meets them at that crossroad...HE stands at every present and every future crossroad and HE calls to them...and HE beckons them...and HE lovingly lures them to choose the right path. And if/when they fail and make the poor choice...even the sin choice...HE will run ahead of them to the next crossroad and do it all over again...and again...and again...stretching into their farthest future.
Now here's the proof...Proverbs 8:1-4a (NLT)
Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads. By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, “I call to you, to all of you!"
I also realized that my kids, having a saved parent, have an extra special anointing...or sanctification that kids with unbelieving parents do not have. My kids are already "set apart" in a unique way today and forever, as i serve the LORD. They are in the BEST position all their live long lives to get trounced on by the HOLY SPIRIT....cause i am a JESUS girl.
Want the proof? 1 Corinthians 7:14 (NIV)
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
and Proverbs 14:26 (NIV)
Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
Are you smiling yet? Hopefully you have at least cracked a faint grin.
Let these 3 reasons you have for smiling at your unknown future sink in ...and come back next time for 4 more reasons...to smile.
You and i can learn how to give GOD the full control of our lives and the lives our sweet babies.
We do have the grace to grant HIM the full burden of meeting us and our kids in all of our happenings.
And we have, deposited inside of us... ladies... a confident HOLY SPIRIT powered smile that is intended to adorn our faces all of our earthly days!