I met T a couple of months ago at one of the clubs we serve at. She immediately expressed a desire to leave, but couldn’t work up the courage to do so. Still, on Sundays, she would attend church with me and break down over the despair she felt every week over having to work in the sex-industry. Her desire to follow God is genuine, but the control addiction has on her life is so strong.

It wasn’t too longer after that I heard she had been in a fight at the club and broke her hand, therefore losing her job and temporary use of her dominant hand. With this limitation, she felt hopeless to even find another job, as she couldn’t write on her own to fill out a job application.

As we were driving to church the next Sunday, she asked Eric and I, “I just wonder…what have I done that’s so bad that all these things keep happening to me?” I sat in silence as thoughts raced through my head. She hadn’t done anything…and yet I knew her question was bigger than what she could vocalize. She doubted if God saw her and cared about her situation. I decided that was more important to vocalize than a theological description of how God’s justice works.

But that’s not the end of the story. 3 days later, I picked her up from the hospital where she had a cast put on so her hand could heal and took her home to the motel room she’s been sharing with her boyfriend while living in Louisville. An hour later, she called me crying. Her boyfriend broke up with her, and kicked her out of the room. She had nowhere to go, and the man she thought loved her had rejected her.

In a little under a month, T’s job, health, relationship, and home were taken away from her.

That evening, I drove from my stable job to my safe home and sat across a table eating dinner with my boyfriend. And I felt numb. I hurt for T, but there was something more going on. It took me 24 hours to even put a word to it, but now I know what was crippling me:

Fear.

I had just watched God remove everything from my friend’s life so He could draw her closer to Him. And while I prayed that T would one day see these things as the ultimate glorification of His name, I was also saying:

“…but we’re cool, right God? I mean, I know you give and take away…but remember last year? And the year before that? You’ve already ripped things from my hands before I was ready to give them up, but I’ve been refined through that! Don’t you see it? So it would be really nice if I could get some kind of guarantee from you that things aren’t going to change for awhile.”

Those weren’t my actual words, 1) because I immediately knew how foolish they were, and 2) I didn’t want to admit that, despite their foolishness, there are days where I really wish things worked that way.

This week at church, our pastor talked about how God DOES want to give you “Your Best Life Now”, but that HE decides what the definition of “best life” is. For all of us, our “best life” is one where we recognize that we own NOTHING, we deserve NOTHING, and God will allow NOTHING to interfere with His glory. Any other reality we believe exists is false.

Thankfully, T has chosen to get help so that she can move toward the “best life” God has intended for her.  Pray for her healing. Pray for her peace. Pray that she does not give up.

And pray that the very thing you fear losing the most would begin to pale in comparison to the presence of God. If He chooses to take it away, it will ultimately lead to your joy. If He allows you to keep it, may it be said that it is only by His grace that He would count you worthy of His calling for His glory. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

Written by Amy W.
SH Outreach Team Member

I couldn’t think of a better Christmas gift this season. As we reflect on our own lives and the lives of so many women that Scarlet Hope has had the privilege to serve this year, we see over and over God rescuing and restoring women right where they are at, in the mess of each of our lives. We are so very thankful he chooses to use us and it is only by his grace that we are saved and able to share the gospel of Christ with others.

There wouldn’t be enough time in the day for me to share with you all that God is doing in this ministry. We consider ourselves unworthy of the amazing blessings that he has given to us, but we will enjoy each one as God gives them and we will try and use them to the best of our abilities. Below is a list of just a few of the things God is doing.

• This past month we have had dozens of women calling and asking for help, several women have put their faith in Jesus Christ and are attending church and bible studies with our team. Women are seeking new employment daily and we are growing in our resources to help them.
• Over 70 families signed up for Christmas gifts this year- thank you Southeast Christian & so many other families for serving our ministry in this way. We were able to take over 1000 presents & food baskets to women and children that we serve. We were able to talk with them in their homes, hotels or clubs and share the Love of Christ with them. (Stories in a blog to come).
• God has moved on the heart of club owners. It is likely we will be holding a bible study IN a strip club at the beginning of the year. God has opened that door and the owner, who has been what he calls “burned” by the church will be attending as well. Pray over this as we seek the Lord’s will in this possibility.
• We were invited to another owners home and we shared in getting to know her more and God is moving on her heart more than ever, this owner wouldn’t even let us say the name Jesus when we first went to her club and now she stands by the door of her office and we pray each week in a circle with her. Praise Jesus!
• Ex-Dancer L and K who both shared their testimonies at our Gala this year are doing amazing. God has provided steady jobs for each of them; and one of them was selected out of 45 people in her training class to stay full time in her job! God is so good.
• Our resource home is looking so wonderful. By the help of so many people, rooms are renovated, our offices are up and running and the rooms are adopted out. We had our first room completed a couple of weeks ago. A few more to go! The residence kitchen – God blessed us with a huge donation of someone adopting that and doing not only the construction of the kitchen but the purchase of all the cabinets and appliances! It’s unbelievable how amazing God’s plans are.
• God has brought to SH four new staff persons. We will introduce Emily W. as our administrative assistant in January, Andrew M as our Kitchen Coordinator in March, Julie W. as our live-in discipleship coordinator and Jennifer B. has been graciously serving with SH part time for the past few months. God has been so good to us!

God, thank you so much for providing for each and every single need we have – BEFORE we even know we need it!
We are so thankful for each of you who pray, support, donate, serve for this ministry~ It truly takes the whole body of Christ to reach the ends of the earth!
Please pray for this Thursdays outreach as we will be passing out gifts and having Christmas dinner meal for all of the clubs we serve in Louisville. It will be such a special time and we are praying that God moves in great ways!
We wish you a very Merry Christmas as you remember the graciousness of the Lord. We are thankful for you,

In Him,
Rachelle Starr
Founder
Scarlet Hope

I can’t wait to see what God will do.

I have learned about the children who are sexually abused in Central Asia. I saw people desperately trying to make themselves right with God and I met women who were selling their bodies for money (whether enslaved or not, I do not know for sure).  I learned of two women (here in the States) who were sold into sex slavery – one of whom was severely beaten. These stories make me sick to my stomach and weigh heavily upon my heart. If I am burdened by such sin, how much more the heart of God? I believe that the God I serve is in control of all situations. Nothing slips by Him. The Bibles says that Jesus Christ upholds both the good and the evil by His Word (Hebrews 1:3). He is a God of redemption and can bring beauty from the worst of ashes. But when I hear stories like these, I have trouble believing that God can redeem these situations for good. What good could possibly come of such tragic circumstances? Yet I know that God’s ways are higher than mine and that He can and will use these situations for His (always) good purposes.

Such sin grieves my heart…and then I remember: I am not too far removed from such acts of wickedness. It lurks within my own heart. I am fully capable of horrific acts, but Christ makes me different. His grace has made me to differ. He is continually changing and refining me. But sin is still there. It may not manifest itself in such outwardly horrific acts as the above, but it’s there just the same. The sad thing is that this sin in my heart does not make me grieve the same way that these horrifically sinful acts do. Piper is right in saying……the reason such horrors exist in the physical realm and the moral realm is to display the outrage of sin. The outrage of sin against the holy God…every time we see something horrific, some horrible accident, our thoughts should be about the outrage of sin, not the injustice of God…instead of calling God into question, we should see them as evidences in our lives of the outrage of sin and the horrific evil and repugnance of sin to a holy God. And God is displaying to us the outrage of sin in the only way that we can see it, because we don’t get upset about our own sinning…And now, stand and wonder at the value of the Son of God, that His suffering could match all of those universe-crushing sins for which He died. Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, p. 232-233

So the Lord was in effect saying to me, “This world is grossly sinful…and, by the way, so are you. These are the areas of sin we need to work on…” And so the refining continues. He worked on my sin of self-sufficiency until He broke me during first 8 months of this year (not that I don’t still struggle with this) and now He has begun to deal with me regarding my sin of people-pleasing. Both of which are rooted in pride. Sigh.

Consider [Jesus] who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not resisted to the point of shedding your blood. It is for discipline that you have to endure, God is treating you as sons [and daughters]. Hebrews 12:3-4, 7a
The depravity of man that the Lord has showed me was followed by explanations from the Bible this past Sunday. Jesus is the best teacher.   As I studied Noah with one of my Sunday School students, we read this verse:
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 – Not a very good picture of us…but an accurate one. This is why we need Christ.

The sermon that morning was about the injustice of the world and the justice of God. Very fitting. Here is another picture of us in our Christless state: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks after God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are shift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Romans 3:11-12, 14-16, 18

My pastor said that apart from God, we are these people. And it’s true. This is the answer to my question of how people could commit such heinous acts against others – there is not fear of God before their eyes. This is why we need Christ.

In my personal time in the Word later that afternoon, it was more of the same thing. God says that our feet “run to evil and we are swift to shed innocent blood; our thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in our highways” (Isaiah 59:7). And what can we do? We are clearly guilty. Not one of us is without fault. “For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and are sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities: transgressing and denying the Lord and turning back from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words” (Isaiah 59:12-13; cf. Psalm 51:3-4). BUT there is hope! Our sin is so radical that only God can provide the remedy…and He did!
The Lord saw it and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then His own arm brought Him salvation and His righteousness upheld Him.Isaiah 59:15b-16

You see, in God is perfect justice and He accomplished our salvation. “All the injustice in the world was swallowed up in Christ” (Pastor Andy). Jesus Christ became our justice (Romans 3:25-26) and He accomplished our salvation by taking upon Himself all of God’s anger toward us because of our outrageous sin.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8, 10-12

This is very good news. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

_______________________________

All for Jesus,

Rachel
Outreach Team SH

Ladies. Urgent need: A former prostitute in Louisville. 23 years old needs prayers and clothing. She was beaten, raped and sodomized so severely they had to remove her colon. She is currently in a safe place awaiting a housing program. She has no clothes except for what she is wearing. They are asking help from us today for clothing. She wears size 7. Reply ASAP if u can help meet this need.

In an instant I prayed, cried, and thanked God for what I had been reminded of that morning.. I began to text a note to my prayer partners that pray every Thursday night as we go to the strip clubs..

Within 5 hours prayers were up. We collected 150.00 and a trunk full of clothes and personal items that will be dropped off to her today. The praise belongs to God alone.. and thanks goes out to those that were obedient to give their time in prayer, in giving, and in love..

Many people have heard the story about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, but most people do not know that Lazarus’ sister had been a prostitute, before she got saved. We find the story in John 11:2 “It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.” Then we have to go further in the story to verse 5, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Also we have to go back to before when Mary was not a believer but when she came to Jesus for salvation. Look at Luke 7:36-50 “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner (the word sinner for a woman in Jesus time meant she was a prostitute), when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying ‘This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’ ‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ‘And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ Then He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

I write this not to give glory to the abuse or the sin but to tell you that there is a great God who loves you and me.. who wants nothing more than to redeem your life and the lives of those that suffer with abuse and sin. He is here.. Those of us that know him are healed by Him.. it is our commission to spread His word in love to a world that aches..

Yes my life was altered as a child but I praise God for his saving grace.. I praise Him because I know him as my only father and am blessed at the family he has given me..full of wonderful sisters and brothers that have a heart for the broken and bruised..

Please be in prayer for this precious woman I can’t help but think of the love she will experience as she begins to see the way that He is moving in her life.

Last year we were just getting our feet wet with An Evening of Hope.  We didn’t know what to expect and God did abundantly more than we could imagine.   This year God again provided abundantly more than we can ask for in so many ways.   A ballroom at the Galt House Hotel was filled last Friday night with so many amazing men and women that came to celebrate with the Scarlet Hope ministry team.   We were so blessed by the evening, both with the testimonies that were shared and in sharing the love with all the supporters!    So many of you pray over this ministry daily and it’s because of those prayers on behalf of these amazing former strippers that we can spend a night like an Evening of Hope to celebrate what God has done.     It’s such a blessing.  So thank you to each and every single one of you that attended our 2nd Annual Evening of Hope.

May God be glorified beyond this evening and we pray many more lives will be changed because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Left: A silent auction table filled with wonderful items businesses &  individuals gave to our ministry to help raise funds.  We had nearly 70 items this year!  Thank you to those who donated.

Right: Guests

A bit about the night:   The evening started with horse devours, silent auction bidding, and a welcome from our awesome registration team. Everyone mingled and shared stories and got to know one another.  It was a great way to start off the night.   The doors opened into a Grand Ballroom set for 370 attendees.    The Galt House staff served a nice meal of chicken with pineapple salsa, vegetables, salad and cheesecake! Hope all enjoyed their meal.

RIGHT:  Cake Therapy donated beautifully dipped cake pops to sell at our Gala.  The buttons were made and donated for the benefit of this ministry!   The cake pops were a HUGE Hit!

The testimonies given were from four beautiful women that have been redeemed by Jesus.   It takes so much courage to get up in front of any group of people and share with them your brokenness, past hurts, pains and trials.    But because of their faith in Jesus they had much to share of his powerful love on their lives.    It was amazing seeing where they were before through video testimonies and seeing who they are today because of the HOPE of Christ!

Thank you sisters for sharing your testimonies with us God was glorified through you!

LEFT:  LeeAnna

Former Stripper 23 years in industry

RIGHT:  Casey, standing in for former dancer Kena – 29 years in industry

The transformation that has taken place in LeeAnna’s life has been incredible to be a witness too.   She was so excited to share with everyone what God has done! We know God has great plans waiting for LeeAnna and each women that spoke along side her.   She was baptized on September 18th 2011!!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

We are so thankful for everyone who served to put this event on.   We have prayed that you will be blessed by hearing the work God is doing in our city!    We love each and every one of you.    To receive more details about our Gala, please sign up to receive our emails, which contain content that are not suitable for the general public as we try and protect the women we serve.   How much was raised at this event will also be sent via email.   Thank you so much for your support!

The Scarlet Hope Outreach Team

All photographs were taken by Julie Wiegand of Jules Wiegand Photography to visit her site please go to: http://www.juleswiegandphotography.com/

]]> http://www.scarlethope.org/2011/10/01/gala-blessings/feed/ 0 http://www.scarlethope.org/2011/09/04/1090/ http://www.scarlethope.org/2011/09/04/1090/#comments Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:44:10 +0000 rachelle http://www.scarlethope.org/?p=1090 Last night.

I never cease to see God’s hand move every Thursday night and tonight was no exception. I want to start off in thanksgiving for the hearts of so many. Without you this ministry would not be what it is today. I picked up food from Northside church tonight! Want to give a big shout out to the wonderful ladies that take time out of their day to prepare food for the ladies in the clubs. I know that many others are involved from other churches as well so THANK YOU!!! The girls cannot wait to see what they are having for supper and are so excited to be able to take some home to their kids.

The night began with our support group. We ended up having 4 ex dancers there tonight and we got down to business. We all shared how our weeks have been and any struggles that have held us captive. Then we took turns encouraging each other in those areas of struggle. Some struggling to get a job, some with trying to stay off drugs, some wondering how they live in victory after many abortions, others struggling with the feeling of never being good enough, I myself struggling with boundary issues. We all shared and encouraged.. It was beautiful.. The contrast between seeing these girls in the clubs barely clothed, without hope, to seeing them fully dressed looking radiant and a hope that would inspire a song.. oh how beautiful.. To hear the wisdom that ONLY God can give left me in awe. In awe of a father in love with his daughters. I could only imagine God’s face as they told each other how beautiful and strong they were. Wisdom that I had only heard in a Beth Moore study was on the lips of ex dancers that had only been out of the clubs for a few weeks!!! Tell me that isn’t crazy!

How blessed i felt to just be sitting in the room with these amazing women that were so in love with Jesus. I miss that excitement of first knowing him.. That child like faith when you knew that he would supply every need. To be in love with him and to feel him close.. I just took in a deep breath of his spirit that was so very present. How refreshing..Not that I don’t experience that at times now but you know how it is when you are a new believer and experiencing all that God has for the first time. It seems as though the rivers in the Bible are alive. Like you can hear them flowing and almost smell the fresh wind that blows through the trees.. Well I wanted it back:) God never changed. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. So I walked away with a fresh wind and fire..

I went to a different club tonight. There were only two girls there and they were busy. I wasn’t sure we would even be able to talk with them. Finally one came to us. She was 22 years old and beautiful. As she sat there with her long blonde hair and her golden skin I could only think of my daughter.. I asked how her relationship with her parents was. She said it was good but they did not like her working there. My mind again went to my own daughter. I imagined Riley at 22.. and my heart began to break.. I imagined her sitting there in her place.. I wondered how her mother must feel.. That this giel is someones daughter and how broken their hearts must be to know that their daughter thinks so less of herself that she is dancing for money.. I could picture God’s heart and how much He wants her to know that she is worth so much more. I had a hard time talking to her for fear that I would cry.. She gave me her number and expressed how she did not want to be there but there were no jobs available. She said she didn’t believe in God because of the loss of her brother.. There was a time she believed but it hurt to much now.. Oh how the enemy lies to us all.. I decided right there that I am going to pray for that young girl like I do my own. Oh how they hurt and how my heart breaks for them to know Jesus..

Thank you each of you.. for your prayers..you never know what can come of them but one thing is for sure. I’m believing God! If he makes my heart this heavy and ask of me and many others to leave their homes every Thursday night to cook, pray, and to go to strip clubs, you better believe its for a reason and I can’t wait to see what happens!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Because of Him,
Casey M.
Outreach team member SH

We headed to the back of the dressing room and quickly realized there were 25+ women working this night! It was a busy night! The conditions in which these women work are horrendous to say the least, most of them ending up here as a last resort!

This night our intent was to go in and provide pampering services for the ladies where we could immediately get one on one time with the ladies. It was wonderful. They warmed up right away and allowed us to do their hair, makeup, foot massages, and just sit and talk with them! The banana pudding that was made for us they raved over! We can’t thank our cooks enough for the beautiful desserts and meals they supply us every week! They appreciate it so much!

Managers were telling us thank you and the girls…all their faces would light up with a gleam of hope when they each saw us. They knew we were there to show them love and show them first and foremost the love of Christ!

Many of the ladies that received a foot massage could not believe that we would get down on the floor and even touch their feet. They were moved beyond words! Each women kept opening up to us more and more. We heard stories of them being asked to prostitute in their dancing careers, abuse unheard of, hopes of pregnancies, and longings to leave this kind of lifestyle.

We could write all day about the endless stories we heard, but two stuck out.

Dancer T spoke a lot with us as she told us her marriage to her husband has been rough. He’s a convicted felon and can’t seem to find a job. Her 5 year old little boy was molested last year when she left him with a babysitter. Her little boy has now been taken out of her custody and she wants more than anything to get him back. The pain that is has taken her through has led her searching for endless amounts of drugs and money. When we did T’s makeup she asked how much she could pay us and when we told her it was absolutely free because we loved Jesus and he loved her, she looked with tears in her eyes and said “I’ve never ever gotten anything for free!”

Dancer S came back in the dressing room and sat down. A question that would follow her entrance was going to be a direct chance to witness the gospel. S told us that she was just asked by a customer to go to a hotel room for $3000.00 and have sex with him. She said that she doesn’t see anything wrong with making money this way and she doesn’t see how it’s different than anything else. We could see the justifying begin. But the question that struck us straight to our core, she asked “Is this money a blessing from God?” Wow! The Lord allowed A on our team to witness through that question to her and it was awesome. We don’t’ know what happened after they talked, but we do know that a big seed was planted tonight.

We pray that one day soon S and T will both rejoice that though they once were blind in darkness, they now can see~ Thank you Lord for providing such amazing opportunities to minister the gospel to so many women!

He is good and providing a way all over this city! To Jesus be All Glory!

Scarlet Hope’s mission is to bring the Hope & Love of Jesus to women in the adult entertainment industry.

This evening will feature – Seated Dinner – Live Music – Silent Auction – and Special Testimonies
Join us on September 23rd 2011 at 6:30p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Galt House Hotel

Tickets are $75.00 per person.

Tables include ten people and are $750.

Purchase Tickets:

How many tickets do you want to purchase?

1 ticket $75.00 2 tickets $150.00 3 tickets $225.00 4 tickets $300.00 5 tickets $375.00 6 tickets $450.00 7 tickets $525.00 8 tickets $600.00 9 tickets $675.00 10 tickets $750.00

Once you purchase your ticket, please bring a valid photo ID with you so we can check you off of the list.

Even though the Lord has seemed to shut out my prayers, I know that He hears me. He continues to tell me to wait, to be still and to trust Him. Through His Word, He directs me to passages that exhort me to these things and that tell me why I am going through this wilderness. Deuteronomy 8 is one such passage. In it, God explains to the Israelites why He sent them into the desert wilderness for 40 years. It was in order to humble them, to test them to reveal what was in their hearts and to teach them to feed on and treasure God’s Word above all else. The Lord did this to prepare them for the Promised Land. Likewise, I know that this is a time of preparation in my life – preparing me for whatever the Lord Jesus has in store. Pray that I will be found faithful.

Sometimes I want to escape or quit or beg for this season to end, but James 1 reminds me of the joy that awaits trials like these: Christlikeness. I am to count it all joy for God is working in me the image of His Son…and to do that takes a lot of (painful) work as He chisels out more and more of me to reveal more and more of Christ. Also, I noticed for the first time in James 1 the little word let.

And let steadfastness/patience have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:4

The trials themselves are a gift from God that makes us more like His Son. We have to work with Him, though. We have to let the testing of our faith produce steadfastness and we have to let steadfastness have its complete effect. The full effect is that we become more holy like the Savior we serve. We can hinder this, however, when we don’t embrace the trials as the gifts from God that they really are.

One of my biggest discoveries this year is that when we ask for more of Christ in and through our lives (and if you know Him and follow Him, you should be asking for this), we are actually asking for our faith to be tested and refined. The psalmists repeatedly cry out for the Lord to test their faith, to search their hearts and to prove their ways (i.e. Psalm 139:23). Until this year, I never realized that they were opening themselves up to God’s refining work, to trials and hardships and whatever else God needed to do in and through them to make them more like Himself. We must remember the words of Jesus, “A servant is not above his Master” (Matthew 10:24). The Lord Jesus waited 30 years for God’s timing to start His public ministry. He was rejected by many, mocked, betrayed, murdered…should we expect any less? We are not alone in these sufferings, though. Jesus promises to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We are to follow His example to be sure – looking unto the joy of the Reward set before us and forgetting all this is behind – but we do not do it alone. Jesus is with us. He strengthens and sustains us. And He is the Reward.

Looking unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

We are not, however, the only ones who wait. The Lord Himself waits to show us grace. He knows the perfect way to achieve His purpose of sanctification in us. Through these light momentary afflictions, He is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him. Isaiah 30:18

Written by: Rachel H.
Member SH Team