Those Rays of Hope

Life can be difficult. The Lord told us in His Word that it would be that way for those who follow Him. But there are times when the Lord lets us see something that encourages us. He gives us just a glimpse of His handiwork and it gives us hope to go on in our work for Him.

Last night I had just such a moment after an extremely difficult week. The phone rang and it was my 19-year-old, Sam. He’s been working up at a summer camp operated by the ministry that I work for. This last week there were 50 kids from the inner city of Milwaukee in attendance. Sam was truly excited as he told me of how the kids had responded to the Gospel message last night. He told how one of the group leaders who came with the campers was just about his age and how he saw that he had raised his hand for prayer. After the service, Sam went up to him and asked him if he wanted to talk. They did talk and Sam was able to pray with the young man and direct him to Scriptures for spiritual help. After his freshman year at college, Sam has been praying about his educational direction and has felt for some time that the Lord may have him in some kind of ministry work. His experience at camp this summer has had a big impact.

“Mom, this is what I want to do!” he told me last night. “I love talking with people about the Lord. I don’t know how God will use me, but I want to be involved with people.”

When I see how far God has brought Sam and how He has worked in Sam’s life to produce this kind of fruit, I am so filled with gratitude. As parents we sometimes are too quick to be discouraged about our children. I know I am. You sow and sow into a child’s life, and you long to see these things take root. But God doesn’t operate on my time schedule. He works according to His own sovereign plan. He makes things beautiful, in His time.

Thank you Lord, for the hope that you give us. Thank you that you sometimes show us glimpses of your plan in progress so that we don’t lose heart in our labors.