THE GIFT
Do you remember, as a child, peering under the Christmas tree in search of the packages with your name on them? Maybe you had asked for a particular gift, a gift easily identifiable by its size. Your search focused on the presents that would be the “right size†to contain that gift. Maybe you found it and were full of excitement. Or maybe…just maybe…you didn’t. Disappointment flooded into your young heart. You had so hoped that the gift would be there. It was the one thing you wanted more than anything else. And, by the looks of it, you weren’t going to receive it.
Sometimes our disappointment in God when it seems our one big request is unanswered, is similar to the disappointment a child feels when the gift he asked for isn’t under the tree. A heart-heavy disappointment sets in as we look and look to no avail. So, we start to lose hope. We become disillusioned. Our faith starts to waiver. We question God.
But maybe, if you had parents like my children did, the one gift that you so desperately wanted really was there. Maybe it was just out of view, kept in a safe place so you’d really be surprised. Or, maybe a smaller box contained clues that you had to follow to search out the treasure. Suddenly, that disappointment turned to joy as you saw your little dreams fulfilled. The gift you’d been hoping for was yours at last!
As we walk through this thing called Standing, we each have a special gift that we’re asking our Father for. Our heart’s desire is to see our marriage restored, our spouse walking with God, our family reconciled, and God glorified. Sometimes though, as we look and look for that gift, it seems like it is not there. As with the child looking under the tree, disappointment sets in. Little do we know that our answer is safely tucked away, waiting for just the right moment – that SUDDENLY moment, when our loving Father will give us the gift that brings joy into our heart.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
God has placed within us the desire of HIS heart: The restoration of our marriage; the salvation of our spouse; the healing of our family. The desire we feel for these things comes directly from the Father Heart of God. It’s His way. He does not change like shifting shadows. He is steadfast in this. As we seek after Him and ask for His direction, He fills us with His desire until it becomes our desire. We ask for the very gift He desires to give us.
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:4-5
And because our asking comes from Him, we don’t need to fear that He will withhold what we are asking for.
And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:14-15
Christmas may still be days away, but we can all be child-like in our faith right now. Prepare your list and ask your Father, the giver of every good and perfect gift, to give you your heart’s desire. Not your wish. Not your hope. Your desire. The desire that was placed in your heart by His Heart. The desire that reflects His desire for you and your family.
Then, even if you don’t see that gift wrapped up and under the tree, it might be that God is just keeping it tucked away so that you’ll be truly surprised when He does give it to you! Or maybe you’ll have to go on a treasure hunt, revealing more and more of God’s goodness as He gives you the next clue – the next step in your journey – until finally you receive that much desired gift.
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!†Matthew 7:11
Teresa,
Waiting for my special gift in Minnesota
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Do you remember, as a child, peering under the Christmas tree in search of the packages with your name on them? Maybe you had asked for a particular gift, a gift easily identifiable by its size. Your search focused on the presents that would be the “right size†to contain that gift. Maybe you found it and were full of excitement. Or maybe…just maybe…you didn’t. Disappointment flooded into your young heart. You had so hoped that the gift would be there. It was the one thing you wanted more than anything else. And, by the looks of it, you weren’t going to receive it.
Sometimes our disappointment in God when it seems our one big request is unanswered, is similar to the disappointment a child feels when the gift he asked for isn’t under the tree. A heart-heavy disappointment sets in as we look and look to no avail. So, we start to lose hope. We become disillusioned. Our faith starts to waiver. We question God.
But maybe, if you had parents like my children did, the one gift that you so desperately wanted really was there. Maybe it was just out of view, kept in a safe place so you’d really be surprised. Or, maybe a smaller box contained clues that you had to follow to search out the treasure. Suddenly, that disappointment turned to joy as you saw your little dreams fulfilled. The gift you’d been hoping for was yours at last!
As we walk through this thing called Standing, we each have a special gift that we’re asking our Father for. Our heart’s desire is to see our marriage restored, our spouse walking with God, our family reconciled, and God glorified. Sometimes though, as we look and look for that gift, it seems like it is not there. As with the child looking under the tree, disappointment sets in. Little do we know that our answer is safely tucked away, waiting for just the right moment – that SUDDENLY moment, when our loving Father will give us the gift that brings joy into our heart.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
God has placed within us the desire of HIS heart: The restoration of our marriage; the salvation of our spouse; the healing of our family. The desire we feel for these things comes directly from the Father Heart of God. It’s His way. He does not change like shifting shadows. He is steadfast in this. As we seek after Him and ask for His direction, He fills us with His desire until it becomes our desire. We ask for the very gift He desires to give us.
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:4-5
And because our asking comes from Him, we don’t need to fear that He will withhold what we are asking for.
And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:14-15
Christmas may still be days away, but we can all be child-like in our faith right now. Prepare your list and ask your Father, the giver of every good and perfect gift, to give you your heart’s desire. Not your wish. Not your hope. Your desire. The desire that was placed in your heart by His Heart. The desire that reflects His desire for you and your family.
Then, even if you don’t see that gift wrapped up and under the tree, it might be that God is just keeping it tucked away so that you’ll be truly surprised when He does give it to you! Or maybe you’ll have to go on a treasure hunt, revealing more and more of God’s goodness as He gives you the next clue – the next step in your journey – until finally you receive that much desired gift.
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!†Matthew 7:11
Teresa,
Waiting for my special gift in Minnesota
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
