Trust Me, It Won't Return Empty
by Celina Worley
You probably have friends and family that don’t give one wit about God. My family did—me. Okay, I did give a wit, a prayer and a few thoughts, too. But the majority of my time was spent running from what I perceived as unloving, hypocritical people who called themselves Christ-followers. I successfully avoided church, but not without prodding, pleading and questioning from my family.
The result of my family’s questioning was predictable—I started to avoid them, too. Almost before someone would start to plead or persuade, I would eyeball the closest exit. The greatest reason was because I felt bad about disappointing them and guilty for not caring about doing those things that I’d been taught were important.
Then one day the questions stopped. I remember, in particular, my sister. It was as if she didn’t care if I ever went to church again. When she called on the telephone she would talk about everything but my obvious spiritual struggles. She began to just love me exactly how I was. I couldn’t believe it. What made the change?
I found the answer years later, in a little notebook my sister gave me. What I read stunned me. Page one, Aug 11, 1995: “He who began a good work in you, Celina, will be faithful to complete it” (Phil 1:6). Page two, Aug 12, 1995: “You keep Celina in perfect peace for her mind is stayed on you, because she trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3). Page three…
Day after day, year after year, in place of faithless fear and worry, my sister claimed promises of salvation over my life. Instead of heartache, anxiety or gossip, she threw herself on the claims of the Bible.
One look at the striking image called “Exploration” found in Volume 11 and God’s word to the prophet Isaiah comes immediately to mind; “...So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
Are you worried about a loved-one who is far from God? Take a look at a few other images in this volume, like the one of a child praying beside his bed, or the young woman with her hands open and a look of peace and thanksgiving on her face. These are images of hope and faith, trust and belief. They are images that encourage me to claim Isaiah 55:11 today for my dear ones. God’s Word will not return without it succeeding in the thing for which it was sent. Trust me, it won’t return empty. I know this first hand.
|  |
|
