Nick, who has no arms nor legs, doesn’t let his disabilities slow him down. Nick surfs, climbs mountains, and has written a book. He doesn’t get angry at God for what he doesn’t have but rather grateful to God for what he does have. In fact, Nick told me something that I thought was odd– he keeps a pair of shoes in his closet. Why would he need shoes when he has no legs? He says it reminds him to keep praying for the miracle of legs because he will walk one day.
On the second day they again circled the city once and returned to camp. They did this six days. When the seventh day came, they got up early and marched around the city this same way but seven times—yes, this day they circled the city seven times. — Joshua 6:14-15
Joshua had to keep his men motivated as they marched around Jericho six times over six days and each time there was no visible impact. They would get up, walk around the city walls in silence, then head back to camp. Day 2, they would get up, walk around the city walls in silence, then head back to camp. Day 3, they would get up, walk around the city walls in silence, then head back to camp. Yada, Yada, Yada. Each day nothing had changed in the mission except sore feet and poor attitudes. It was on the seventh day, when I’m sure they were grumbling, tired, and frustrated that the walls came tumbling down through no effort of their own.
At what point do you give up praying for something? I often think my prayers aren’t making a difference when I don’t see physical change or them answered. I wish I had Nick’s faith because I quit believing my sister would come to faith a long time ago. Currently I have been in search of a house in a particular school district and for nearly 8 weeks have been circling it in prayer. I have not seen God move at all and are beginning to question if it was God’s will to sell our home. I keep thinking that I have to be on day five or six of my march as it is tough to keep praying when I don’t know where the finish line is.
How about you?
Joshua reminds me that I am close to seeing crumbling walls. I can’t give up praying nor acting in obedience because day 7 is near.
Reflection |
What are you ready to give up on?