Blessing by Faith

On Sunday, a friend shared with us that they are expecting again. The way in which he shared it was priceless and has stuck with me each day since. It would be helpful to understand the full background of this wonderful family and thus you would truly see how profound his statement was on Sunday. It is not my place to share in that detail, but picture this...

A family felt called to come to the City and share the love of Christ to the "nations". They gave up their suburban lifestyle and 4 bedroom house to move into a 2 bedroom apartment with their 2 children and dog (and now cat). In their minds their family was complete, and even if they thought about more children, the lack of space dictated otherwise. All seems well, and then there was a slight "twist" in plans. They are now expecting a third child. 

I'm sure you can imagine their thoughts at this point. Excitement. Confusion. Disbelief. Anxiety. Or as he put it on Sunday, it is a "blessing by faith". Profound isn't it? After a laugh or a tear or both, it is a blessing by faith. Love that. It hit me like a ton of bricks. 

On another but parallel note, our family heard yesterday that Coach Nutt of the Razorbacks is leaving the team after 10 years and moving on to coach Ole Miss. I know it sounds trivial in light of other situations going on in life, but it is still one that hits close to home. He is the coach that invested in Rhett, got to know our family, has been a motivator for my brother in this crucial time of being a freshman starter, and now he is leaving. Just like that. My family is having a hard time with it. 

This news, of course, coming after a win over LSU and tons of media coverage of the team and the future. Interesting, isn't it? There was a "twist" of plans and yet I must say that I go back to the phrase and choose to see it as a blessing by faith, praying that others will too. 

Is there something in your life that you need to claim as a "blessing by faith"? Do we have enough faith to see it as a blessing? Does it take faith to see some blessings? What if those of us in the covenant church of Christ lived life by this phrase? What if this was the first response we had when something didn't quite go as we planned. 

It reminds me of the passage in Mark 9, where the man says to Christ, " I believe; help my unbelief." I find myself at this place quite often. Is there something in your life that is leading you to cry out to God - God I trust you, help me to have greater faith. God, I know you are sovereign and so, I am choosing to see this as a blessing - by faith. I pray that I, too, can respond this way. For I know life has many more turns and "twists" and I want to be able to respond without hesitating... this is a blessing by faith.