Let us hold
unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
While in Haiti, I had a conversation with a friend who has
truly come against all odds to reach his goals. I stood there listening,
dumbfounded, as he explained his life story to me. While I certainly enjoy a
good testimony that starts with humble beginnings and ends in “happily ever
after,” his story struck me as something much more authentic. There wasn’t an
obvious solution to every problem he faced, and no single person swooped in to
save the day. There was hard work involved. There was necessary planning and
taking action. Most notably, there was an underlying hope.
One of the biggest obstacles in my friend’s life was finding
the means to go to college. He simply did not have adequate funds to go. Beyond
that, there were cultural and environmental barriers that would reduce the
feasibility of a college education. Frankly, from a rational standpoint it was
not possible. If you were to talk with my friend, however, you probably
wouldn’t see it that way. He explained to me how on the first day of school, he
didn’t even know how he was going to be able to pay for books or daily
necessities. Nonetheless, he knew God called him to be there and that He would
provide. Long story short, in his search for work, my friend came in contact
with the exact people he needed. The people he met not only met financial
needs, but supported him spiritually and emotionally. By having faith in God
and working diligently to achieve the goals set before him, my friend has been
able to attend college.
God’s faithfulness in my friend’s life is directly paralleled
in his work as a gardener. As he works in a country that has faced many natural
disasters, he has encountered several situations that have wiped out his livelihood. In spite of the hurricanes, earthquakes, and other unpredictable
obstacles that have destroyed life, he has not stopped planting, re-building,
and working to revive the garden. With my own eyes, I can say that I have
literally seen his hard labor bear fruit. Remaining hopeful and diligent to the
work set before him, God has provided life and restoration.
God is good and He provides! My friend’s story doesn’t end
there in a “happily ever after,” though. He still has to face the challenges of
finding a career in a place that has limited opportunity. When I asked him how
he felt about the prospects of his future after graduating college, he looked
at me in the eye and said, “When you work hard and follow God’s will for your
life, He will take care of you.” These words were very meaningful to me and
will be something I remember.
In Hebrews 10:23,
we are charged to “hold unswervingly to
the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” I am thankful to
have a friend that has spoken this truth into my life. As I am in a stage of
life that comes with a lot of unanswered questions and waiting, I am encouraged
to remain hopeful in Christ. I am challenged to diligently seek God’s will for
my life, as I know that He keeps His promises to those who faithfully follow
Him.
Until next time,
Tamara
