“Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: fear not…I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.”
Isaiah 44:2-4
I have loved praying this for my children. Abiding in His Word, soaking in His refreshment, and begging for my children “O, that they would know You, the One True God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent!” (John 17:3) Looking to the Holy Spirit to do His work in them, awakening them and drawing them to Light and Truth as only He can.
Today I was gifted a beautiful piece of art, symbolizing the promise I cling to for my children. I cannot make them believe, I cannot give them faith, I cannot bring my children to life. But my children are a blessing from the LORD. And I long for the day when I can look back, and ponder all that He did to draw them to Himself, to make them like poplars, soaking up His streams of Living Water.
God’s Word, my prayer
This promise of His relieves me from joining countless others who have looked upon their children merely as sinners. We are all sinners–all in need of His grace. To think otherwise is to deceive myself. Yet I will not despair over my inabilities; rather I will show them an abiding life, and a life of both faith and repentance. I will preach the full gospel to them, and remind them of His promises over and over and over. We will delight in His love, and goodness, and beauty, and sovereignty. We will imagine heaven together often. We will ‘love and sing and wonder’ together. And He will be at work in them, they are His (not mine).
I am thankful for the community around me, the friends that I am knit together to in His Love. I am blessed to be on this journey of faith with others. I am thankful for the beauty of His Word, His metaphors, this artwork, and gospel friendship. (sigh)