4 Mins Read

It Is Time To Exhale. Our Future Is Secure.

It is time to exhale. Our future is secure.

My heart is writing this blog in submission to a King who desires to reach your heart more than I ever could. To a King that loves our families, our country, and our entire world more than we ever fathom.

Before we start, here is a sweet reminder:

He loves speaking to you. 
He loves the way you glance towards Him. 
He loves.. your love for lattes, ugg slippers, morning snuggles, and all the weird quirks in-between.

Okay got that cuppa? Let us start.

Throughout the past two weeks, the Lord has highlighted to me a people group and a woman in the Bible: the Israelites + the woman with the alabaster jar. Most biblical scholars or communicators would never place these two records together. However, the Lord spoke to my heart the similarities of faith and His faithfulness seen in each. 

A little paraphrased historical context: The Lord led the Israelites through a time of slavery, plagues, and wondering. They experienced a tragic time in history. Dealt with human death, fear, emotional and physical abuse, and loss. God directed Moses, set the Israelites free from slavery, parted the Red Sea, provided manna and quail, a tabernacle of worship, and led them through the desert into the Promised Land (read the book of Exodus).

This people group was loved by the Lord. 
He loved speaking to them. 
He loved when they worshiped Him. 

Now, the woman with the alabaster jar! She also experienced a tragic event in her life. Mary was her name (John 12:3). This specific story is accounted for in three epistles (Matthew 26, Mark 14, John 12). She was an incredible woman of the Lord who knew how to sit at the Lord's feet. Her testimony brought her to the moment of anointing Jesus' feet with a years-wages. Mary witnessed her brother Lazarus die and be resurrected by Jesus (John 11). She spent time with Jesus in the town of Bethany and understood His teachings. Through her encounters with Jesus, she was left in awe of God. Mary served from that place of amazement. 

Mary was loved by Jesus.
Jesus loved spending time with her.
Jesus loved her acts of worship. 

Both, the Israelites and Mary, have similarities in faith. Both moved in faith even when it did not make sense. 

The Israelites knew the promises of God. They moved in faith when it did not make sense to. However, that journey of faith was not perfect and they drifted. Not knowing whether they would enter the promised land themselves, or the generations after them, the Israelites struggled, sinned, and endured. But, God remained faithful to them. God's promises were not left undone.

Now, the woman acted out of a place of deeply knowing Jesus. She went against the cultural drift to offer Jesus her very best. She risked cultural punishment and financial loss because He was worth way more than her most expensive fragrance (nard). Mary moved in faith before it made sense. Even the disciples tried to make sense of her worship (John 12:4-5). But Jesus saw her faith and rebutted the cultural indignities towards the woman: “truly, I say to you, wherever, the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her” (Mark 14:9). This woman was unaware of her influence and the massive events to follow: the cross, the burial, His resurrection, and the impact of her devotion to the Lord.

There is so much to learn from the Israelites + the woman with the alabaster jar. I challenge you to read the passages for yourself. But what I end with is this:

The Israelites and Mary lived in uncertain times. Both shared a deep understanding of God. They did not have the Bible written in completion like we do today. And like them, we too are living in uncertain times. We do not know how our personal life will unfold. BUT what we do have is the Word of God. His promises of supernatural peace (Philippians 4:7), strength for the weary (Isaiah 40:29), plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11), His presence with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9), “to save those who are eagerly waiting..” (Hebrews 9:28). And so many more promises that God is faithful to fulfill! 

It is time to exhale. Our future is secure. We have been given the ability to rest in His promises because it is a gift to us. Are we living to make sense of what the Lord is doing? Or are we living by faith?

Let’s be a people group, men and women, who live by the Word of God. 

Bethany.

SHARE ON
Bethany Houser

Bethany Nicol

Hello, my name is Bethany! I am a scottish midwife, missionary and professional auntie for four ‘wild littles’ with twin boys on the way. My life is full of adventure and fun! I love Jesus with all of my heart and have a huge passion for womens’ ministry and global maternity health care. Currently, the Lord has me serving alongside the Seeds team in beautiful Montana. You will always find me admiring God’s creation and holding a cuppa tea.

Stay Updated on
New Discipleship Resources

Receive our latest Kids Worship video for FREE!

Stay connected with Seeds Kids Worship HERE!