Gentle Reminders

But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. Romans 8:25 (NLT)
Rejoice in our confident hope.  Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12 (NLT)


     "I'm wondering if we heard God wrong."  I said these words with tears starting to well up in my eyes.  Jake and I were sitting in a conference room for the  lawyer who would be handling our real estate closing.  The question which hounded me for the last two months of set backs finally bubbled to the surface.  What if we had heard God wrong?  What if our move had not been God breathed? 
     The question seemed preposterous in my own ears, we had been so certain God had lead every step of our journey from unemployed to employed, from one home to another.  Yet, here we were signing our papers in the hope it would be signed by the buyer to make it official.
     We hoped.  Each step of the way we had encountered some new piece of paper or situation that would prevent us from selling our home due to new real estate lending requirements.  I was at the end of my ability to handle any of it. 
     Can you relate?  Have you ever reached a moment where you have to wonder about the mission you were given?  Charity work, a new job, rehab program, new child, tithing - did you feel a nudge of doubt?
     Then, Jake looked at me and said, "Karey, nothing has stopped us from selling the house.  We've just needed to be patient."  There is the word I dread, and maybe when you read our scriptures in Romans you did the same thing.  Patience.  It had been our constant companion through ever decision, every open door, and every moment of waiting. 
     Mine had finally failed, along with my confidence.  I was thankful for my husband's gentle reminder, but even more thankful for God's Word which tells me, "...And the scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled." (Romans 15:4b) and "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13). 
     When we've failed in patience, confidence, and life in general, we can hold on to the encouragement and hope God's Word gives.  Beautiful reminders of God's love, Jesus and his sacrifice, and the gift of a Holy Spirit which lives in us.  As Jake showed me yesterday, when everything is running low or spreading thin in our life, our God is big enough for the hard questions and has placed his Word into our lives to breathe hope back inside of us.