Mary Frances Logue brought a book to me a few weeks ago before our vacation. She
only asked that I read it and consider it a gift. When we returned, I went into their
Sunday School class, head down, to let her know I had not read anything the entire
time I was on vacation. However, I started reading the book the next week and really
enjoyed the stories and information from Kathie Lee Gifford’s book The Rock, The
Road, and The Rabbi. Throughout the book, Kathie shares her experiences of going
to Israel and walking through the steps of Jesus and his disciples. Along with her is a
Rabbi named Jason Sobel who brings Biblical stories to life by sharing history or his
own perspectives that we may neglect in Biblical interpretation. I’ve found the book
to be a joy to read and thought I would share key thoughts with you over the next
couple of weeks that I hope encourage you in your faith.
Chapter Two is about Kathie’s visit to En Gedi. This is where David ran from Saul and
hid in caves as he searched for God, praying for Him to direct the young soldier’s
steps in this war. Kathie writes:
“Haven’t we all experienced excruciating times of waiting for God to answer
our prayers? But the wait isn’t idle time; the waiting period is our opportunity to be
active and alive and growing, which is why it is so important that we persevere. As
Isaiah 40:31 reminds us: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They
will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and
not faint.” God’s promise about the waiting times is as big a part of His plan as the
actual moment when God’s promise comes true. I doubt we are ever the same
person when the promise is fulfilled that we were when the promise was made.”
When we pray, waiting is a part of the process. David started with a great victory and
lived in the palace with the king for a time. Then life changed again. He was on the
run and life was difficult. Persevering through prayer offers us a perspective we
would not otherwise experience without being in that place. We want to rush it
though, but the waiting is just as important. If you’re praying through a time in you
life right now I want to encourage you to embrace the waiting. Hope in the Lord will
renew your strength and give you the courage to continue praying until God gives an
answer. Keep moving forward and be patient through God’s lessons and those
shared through The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi.
Keep The Faith,
Pastor Tommy
Leave a Reply