Baby Talk: Gracious Uncertainty

By faith Abraham obeyed
when he was called to go out to the place
which he would receive as an inheritance.
And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
- Hebrews 11:8

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
- Hebrews 11:1

My grandson Matthew is six months old today.

I've been in Manila for a week now, so I'm not able to celebrate this special day with my him and his parents.

It's great being with my daughter, Obedient One, here in Manila, but I also miss holding Matthew, and singing to him, and praying for him everyday! Babies can really be addicting!



The picture I posted above speaks of the kind of faith I have in my heart. The photo is actually from a blog post entitled "The Road of Unknowing," and seems so perfect for my favorite verse, Hebrews 11:8, quoted above.

I have been on a journey of faith for many years, traveling on a road that Oswald Chambers describes so appropriately in his meditation entitled "The Graciousness of Uncertainty," part of which I have copied below:

Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We imagine that we have to reach some end, but that is not the nature of spiritual life.

The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty, consequently we do not make our nests anywhere.

Common sense says - "Well, supposing I were in that condition . . ."

We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in.

Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life.

To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth.

This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation.

We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God.

Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time.

When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe God, we only believe our belief about Him.

Jesus said, "Except ye become as little children."

Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next.

If we are only certain in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views; but when we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy.

"Believe also in Me," said Jesus, not - "Believe certain things about Me."

Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come.

Remain loyal to Him.

My greatest desire is for my dear grandson become a great man of faith.

Here is a special prayer for my grandson, whom I have also named Forerunner, as he turns six months old today:

My dear Forerunner, in the name of Jesus, I bless you today with a special gift of faith...

faith that will move mountains,
faith that will make you willing to go to uncharted territories,
faith that will make you fearless and untouchable to the kingdom of darkness,
faith that says "With God all things are possible!"

I bless you today with the kind of faith that will not cause you to fear the unknown, but always make you willing to try new things you've never tried before.

I bless you with a heart of faith, even at a young age, that will always bring you up to the next level where God wants to take you.

Through your childlike faith, may you have a desire to obey, for obedience is a major ingredient for a growing faith!

Without faith it is impossible to please God, so I bless you today with a faith that will keep increasing, so that you will always be pleasing in God's eyes... and that this faith will motivate you to keep seeking Him, because He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

May you have many opportunities to learn how to trust God at an early age, and may you grow up to be a great man of faith!

First time to try "solid" food!
This snapshot of Matthew was taken a few weeks ago.