Does this link need any explanation?
Seminary has been a great blessing to me. Louisville, Grace Church, and seminary friends have been a great blessing to Jodee. But we would be lying if we did not confess that we’re still in a wilderness. The circumstance(s) that led us here were providentially allowed by God and it is here that we have been driven by his hand. We truly feel his blessing already, but have not yet tasted the sweetness of his granting our deepest longing. So I turn to this compelling narrative:
Genesis 25:19-26
19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: e Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, f the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of g Paddan-aram, h the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And i the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” [2] So she went j to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
k “Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you [3] shall be divided;
l the one shall be stronger than the other,
m the older shall serve the younger.”
24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, n all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with o his hand holding Esau’s heel, sop his name was called Jacob. [4] Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
20 years! They were married when Isaac was forty. Jacob and Esau were born when he was sixty! If that is not a wilderness than I do not know what is.
And yet, Jacob “prayed to the LORD for his wife.” So to, once she had conceived, Rebekah did “inquire of the LORD.” This is what the people of God do. When they are in need, they ask Yahweh for help. When they are in a wilderness, they praise Yahweh and plead for deliverance.
I do not yet know what the Lord has planned for us. But I do know one thing: He is enough. I write this today, because tomorrow I might be tempted to not believe that. Then I must remember and persevere. Even this perseverance is by his grace.