Yesterday, I wrote of how God Blesses Faithfulness; and I mentioned that Faith is the assurance of things unseen. At least for me, that is the key. Certainly, I receive Blessings when I act in Obedience…as any good parent would, God longs to say, “Well done!” But, to be honest, some of my greatest Blessings have been given when I am Obedient in FAITH–not after everything has “turned out well”…but when my Faith is at it’s strongest–when I’m CHOOSING to Believe in that which is UNSEEN. And that is exactly where I am now…

I recently wrote of how I how jumped back into online dating. Anyone who knows me, knows I would welcome a relationship. But not just any relationship–God has to be at the CENTER of it. As I want my life to testify of God’s Grace, so I desire my relationship to do the same.

When I met the triathlete, his Faith was slightly different than mine; but he made it clear that he wasn’t interested in dating just for the sake of dating. He wants marriage–and he was firm in his Belief that he wanted God’s best for that relationship. So, yes, he was sorry to hurt me when he broke things off–but I graciously assured him that I appreciated it because we both want God’s best. So that hard decision simply freed me up for God to bring someone else into my life.

I was disappointed, of course. But I am learning to no longer look to the man–but look to God. My confidence is in HIM; and my HOPE is in HIM. So I asked Him what I was to learn from that brief experience–and He graciously showed me that I don’t have to wait until the kids are completely grown and gone to begin to enjoy some hobbies again. But I have to get out of my “busy-ness” that I have built around myself in order to free up my time. He showed me that I’m not freed up to do some of the things that I LOVE because I’m too busy doing things I HAVE to do…following through on commitments that take my time. That was the gift that tri-guy gave me–it was for my gain, not for “loss”. God used that experience to teach me about myself–and I’m so very thankful.

And as for a relationship, I kept my FAITH. I knew that I may have “lost” him; but if God has a relationship for me, I hadn’t “lost” it. So I stood firmly on that Faith….and four days later, I met an amazing Christian man. And we began an intense relationship, one like I’ve always dreamed of but never known.

Last week, after much prayer, God said “no”. We both realized that God has some things to work out in our lives before we will be truly ready. So, once again, I am facing “loss”…and once again, I am walking by FAITH….CHOOSING to Believe in that which is UNSEEN….and once again, God is teaching me much about myself. This experience, too, was meant for my GAIN and I am so very THANK-FULL.

So finding the “lost” screw exactly where it was “meant to be” was even more precious to me…because in His Lovingkindness towards me, God was saying…”When you walk by Faith, you cannot “lose” what I have for you. When the time is right, you will not have to search for it. You will find it where I placed it…exactly where it belongs.”

And I BELIEVE and it is counted as FAITH…and Blessings are showering down upon me as I walk in the “Confidence that has great reward”. God is an AWEsome God. 🙂

Confidence, both to STAND on and to REST in:

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…” (Hebrews 10:35-36NKJV)

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:6, 9-11 NKJV)

“I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

“Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” (Job 42:1, 2 NKJV)

“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24 NKJV)