refined faith

Yesterday was one of those Sundays where it felt like God ordered the entire day for my growth and sanctification.  I was so encouraged to be with the members of our local church, and from Sunday School to morning worship to our evening time of prayer, God was speaking to my heart and opening my eyes to see.  Our Sunday School class is currently going through the book of Matthew.  Yesterday’s lesson surrounded the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law at the end of chapter 7.  As we talked about the three healings in chapter 7, our teacher noted the bigger picture of Christ demonstrating what His Kingdom will be like…where every sickness and disease will be wiped away (Revelation 21).  As a way of practical application, we thought about whether we were seeking our final happiness and satisfaction in this world or this life.  Our teacher (and I’m paraphrasing!) said that if we are, we are setting ourselves up for an exercise in frustration, disappointment and unfulfilled expectations because this world is not as it should be.  It is full of sickness, disease, death…ultimately sin.  To seek our happiness here is futile, but there is a world to come in which we can hope because Christ has promised to restore all things, a new heaven and a new earth where He will reign forever as King!  This is what we as Christians are to be waiting for.  As I sat in the room, somewhat absorbed in my own thoughts, I became acutely aware of how much happiness I’m expecting by the arrival of our sons into our home.  In some ways, I’ve sought identity in being a mother to these adopted children and expected this role to bring some type of contentment or satisfaction in life that truly only Christ can bring to my life.  I’m thankful for God’s conviction of these sentiments and that I could repent from a warped thinking about our adoption.  By God’s grace at work in me, I was reminded that I am not finally waiting for our cases to be approved and our boys to come home, but I am waiting for the day Christ returns and removes the plight of all orphans everywhere by ushering in His glorious kingdom.