What Has God Promised You? – Luke 2:25-32

What has God promised you?

There was a span of several years when I believed I would have more children, but it seemed it would never be. I felt it so strongly about it that I labored in prayer many times as I walked the graveled paths bordering our property. I questioned if it were possible something or someone had the power to block his promises. I also declared I didn’t want children unless it was his will.

I asked him to take the desire away if it wasn’t from him, but the yearning and the belief in what he promised remained.

I even came to the point where I was concerned for my sanity, having witnessed an elderly woman in a nursing home cradling a doll and, with a twinkle in her eye, telling me it was her real baby. I didn’t want to end up like her, so I continued to submit my will to God’s.

And I waited.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.

Luke 2: 25-32 ESV

Was my experience like Simeon’s? Had it been revealed to me by the Holy Spirit that there would be more children? I was sure he revealed it to me, and I knew he kept his promises. But there was also a chance I was wrong, too. Making mistakes comes easy for me.

I chose to walk humbly before him and trust him still.

My core desire was that he would be glorified in my life. I have complete rest in him who gave his life for me. In him I am satisfied. My prayers were answered – the root of them, anyway, in the prayer of Jesus as recorded in the book of John:

Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. “Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 

John 12:27-29 ESV

We did eventually add children to our home, one of whom we later adopted. Motherhood didn’t look the way I thought it should after all, but I am grateful for the struggle to grow in my faith and the lessons I learned as we fostered 12 children through the state and housed other “strangers” who were in need.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for encouraging me, in my questionings and in my pain, to fully trust you and your timing. You never left me, you comforted me when I reached for you, and you will forever have my praise. Amen!