I am not a “natural woman.”
I love cozy homes with squishy beds and home-cooked dinners. I appreciate a glass of white Zinfandel too. In my younger days, I was adventuresome, trekking winding paths with my trailblazing buddies. But the impact of six decades on this modern girl has plopped me in the middle of comfortable suburbia.
Even though I may not be a lover of nature, I know God is. After all, He created the rushing rivers, mutely painted desserts, and ice-capped mountains.
God once proudly, but gently, led Abraham outdoors and showed him the vast, starry sky. Abraham struggled with God’s plan for him. For decades, the aging Hebrew had implored the Lord for a son. Year after year, God gave none.
Finally, the deafening silence of the heavenly Father was pierced with an announcement that the Lord would make him “into a great nation” (Genesis 12:2). But years passed and still no son. The affliction of his family barrenness gripped the heart of this righteous man. I imagine he pounded the heavens with questions about God’s previously presented plan.
At last, a vision came to Abraham, and the Lord said, “I am your shield, your very great reward” (Genesis 15:1). Abraham replied, “You have given me no children; so a servant … will be my heir” (Genesis 15:3).
A quiet pause may have occurred in the heavenly realm as all celestial ears turned to hear the Father’s firm reply: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body” (Genesis 15:4).
That’s when the Father took His precious child outside. I envision God’s big-daddy arm enveloping Abraham’s drooping shoulders as the Lord said, “Look up” (Genesis 15:5)! As the Abba-Father showed Abraham His plan through the starry example of the brilliant, unadulterated night sky (no light pollution here), Abraham once again saw a teeny glimpse of God’s magnificent plan.
Traipsing through the outdoors may not be my preferred pastime anymore. But catching my Father’s heavenly vision for me is vital. He has a vision for you too. Look up at Him, so you can see His destiny—one designed especially for you.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Catherine Jacobs has lived in South Carolina’s Low Country for thirty-five years and raised her family of four children. For fourteen years, she served as the Director of the Children and Family Ministry at her home church, St. Paul’s, Summerville. Thirteen years ago, she discovered the joy of her life: being a grandmother. Her passion for increasing the impact of a grandparent’s influence on their child’s heart led to the creation of an independent ministry—Pass the Legacy—and a book, Pass the Legacy: Seven Keys for Grandparents Making a Difference. She is a charter member of and speaker for Legacy Coalition, a national organization for Christian grandparenting.