There is a fire, a tenacity
of soul and spirit, that grabs the heart of our Maker. Sometimes this fire can be misinterpreted by on-lookers
as stubbornness, but it is not necessarily contained within an obvious, outward trait, immediately recognizable to all
around. As it is a condition of the heart, a resolution beyond words to express, it may remain hidden deep within, or
may spill out in emotions and actions. Either way, it is unmistakable to our Father above.
Think
about the picture painted in Isaiah 54:1-3, above. A barren woman. A woman who has tried again and again to conceive,
with no success. A woman who appears to be out of God's favor. A woman who must deal daily with the humiliation
that she has failed to reach her dreams and desires, a part of her very reason for living, and there is absolutely nothing
she can do to change it.
But
she just can't get away from those words, "Sell everything and buy the field." (Matt. 13:44) Isn't that the risk He asked her to take? To step past the countless tears and questions. To
get beyond the logic and arguments. To believe one more time. And not only to believe, but to sing! To celebrate.
To enlarge her home in preparation of coming children, to the shaking heads of the neighbors.
That's
a lot to ask when a heart has grown weary. And yet He asks because He is looking, searching for a heart with
that fire, that tenacity, that willingness.
That's a huge word,
an expensive word - willingness.
Willing to step into the dark.
Willing to step through the
fear.
Willing to step over the pain.
Willing to risk it all, sell
it all, or give it all away at His word.
This isn't just a casual attitude.
Webster's New World Thesaurus lists some synonyms for willing/willingness: zealous, enthusiastic, eager, reliable, prompt,
obedient, responsible, agreeable, prepared, voluntary, and ready. I would like to add that sometimes this willingness
comes in a place of great weariness, but the heartcry is still the same - "Yes, Father. At Your word."
When I say, "Yes, Father,"
I silence
the voices which try
to bring doubt.
When I say, "Yes, Father,"
I'm believing that One Voice
can override all others.
When
I say, "Yes, Father,"
I'm believing that that
One Voice will speak only Truth.
Over and over it is recorded
of Jesus searching for this same mixture of desperation, perseverance, and faith. It caused Nicodemus to climb a tree.
It pushed Peter to throw the net out again and to walk on water. It so filled a young girl's heart that she
believed beyond all sense of logic that she would birth the Son of God.
This willingness to try again
resulted in blind eyes opening, lame feet walking, absent children being healed, and demoniacs being set free. In
one woman, this fire wasn't dampened even when Jesus called her a dog, but pushed on until the crumbs
from the table became healing power.
The path to our future is
not always smooth. In fact, if our heart burns for Him, it will most certainly lead us through many deep valleys and
up many steep mountainsides. But the promise of our Father is sure: the children of the barren woman will be more
than the married wife - and they will posses the nations to make them fruitful!
The shame of our youth, the
area of our humiliation, the place of our emptiness will become our glory!
