my anchored life:

Most mornings my alarm goes off between 5 and 6 am.  I intentionally get up about 2 hours before the first kid will stir.  I stumble downstairs with my favorite hoodie draped over my arm, my glasses in my hand, and the dog on my heels. I push the “on” button on the coffee pot and turn on my computer.  I let the aroma fill my nostrils and open my Bible so He can begin to fill my soul.  These first moments every morning are so precious to me.  This is my time to be alone with the Only One who knows me better than I know myself.  Monday through Friday I begin my morning with the daily Bible Study on the IF: EQUIP website.  For the next 7 weeks we are studying the Women of the Old Testament…watching closely as they fight to find faith in the midst of their doubts, fears, and failures.

This week’s reading is about Rebekah.  She was an ordinary young woman, who was just minding her own business–walking to a well to draw water.  Unbeknownst to her, Abraham’s servant had traveled all the way back to his master’s homeland, prayerfully searching for the perfect bride to bring back to Abraham’s son, Isaac.  The minute Rebekah shows up on the scene, the servant knows she is the answer to his prayer and the very next day he asks permission to leave and take Rebekah with him.  Her brother and mother reply by making excuses–hoping that the stranger will give her a few more days at home with her family.  In the end, the men decide to let her have the final say.  As she enters the room, he asks her very simply, “Will you go with this man?” {At this point in my reading, I felt the need to stop the scene and yell out, “This dude is a STRANGER!  Don’t go with strangers, sister!! He just showed up on your doorstep–excuse me, at your well—yesterday!” But at the risk of waking the kids with my yelling, I continued to read.}

Lo and behold, Rebecca responded with 3 incredibly brave, simple words, “I will go.”

I sat there staring at my Bible this morning dumbfounded.  My mind was racing….trying to think about how many times I’ve actually given the same answer as Rebekah.  Did I respond the same way she did?  Was I willing to go? Or did I make excuses?  Was I too afraid?  Or overwhelmed?  Or selfish?

“I will go” means having the faith to pursue whatever it is that God calls me to do for Him, regardless of my own doubts, fears, and failures.  “I will go” means being brave enough to leave my “comfortable,” and trusting that He will be my Refuge if
I feel afraid, alone, or inadequate.  “I will go” means being willing to trade my familiar and normal for His Glory and His purposes to be fulfilled.  “I will go” is about surrendering myself to the Only One who can be trusted to faithfully complete the good work He has begun in me (paraphrased from Philippians 1:6).

Today I added Rebekah and those 3 amazingly, powerful words to my list because I’m so incredibly thankful for the extraordinary example of these ordinary women.  I prayed a dangerous prayer and asked Him for the chance to follow in her footsteps.  I pleaded with Him to make me brave and to increase my faith.  I asked Him to fix my eyes on His strength rather than my circumstances and shortcomings.  And I promised Him that I would be listening for His call…and when I hear that still, small voice, I will courageously, boldly go.