The Bravery of Caleb

Today some of my dear friends in the blogging world stop to honor and encourage a beautiful and brave woman of God. Our sweet sister-in-Christ, Desiré from the blog When You Rise, will soon give birth to her third son, Caleb. This little boy is a precious gift from our Heavenly Father who has a long road ahead of him. He was diagnosed with a severe congenital heart defect and will almost immediately need to undergo the first of many surgeries to help his little heart work properly. As we anticipate his arrival, we want to take a moment to celebrate this new life as well as encouarage our sister Desiré as she prepares for the days ahead. Would you join us in praying for Caleb? You can stay updated on his journey by “liking” his Facebook page Pray for Caleb.

Dearest Desiré,

It isn’t often that we get to peek behind the curtain of providence to spy out the trials set before us. Most of life’s disappointments, sorrows, and pains come upon us suddenly and without warning. As the news of your dear son’s heart defect flowed from your doctor’s lips I know that it came as quickly and painfully as a bullet to your soul. As the specialists began outlining plans of action and describing painful and risky procedures, I know your brain must have been swarming with questions and anxieties and fears. I know when you picture the life you will live the next few months and the difficulties your family will face in the coming years, you are tempted to give in to the weight of it all. I know, because I would too.

As I have prayed for you and your little one, I have been struck by the perfection of the name you chose–Caleb which means bold and faithful. Caleb, which directs our minds back to the stunning fearlessness of a man who was willing to enter into the enemy occupied promised land as long as his God entered with him.

I picture you now looking behind the curtain of providence at your own scary and uncertain future. I see you gazing into the unknown and am reminded of those men of Israel who spied out God’s promised land filled with strong, giant men in strong, fortified cities and were filled with terror. They knew it was the Lord’s intention for his people to conquer this land “that devours its inhabitants” and they were overcome with fear at the thought.

There were two men, however, who were so possessed by the Spirit of the Lord–two men who knew that the God of Israel was strong and mighty–who stood with confidence and bravery in the face of the unknown. While the rest of Israel wept and turned away from the Lord, Joshua and Caleb courageously proclaimed the inevitable victory of anyone who trusted in the Lord’s strength. Though the odds seemed to be hopelessly against them, these two men did not waver in their resolve. Though, no one else had faith, these two men believed in the goodness of their God. They believed his word and just as Abraham was counted righteous for believing God’s promises, so Caleb and Joshua were said to have “wholly followed the Lord” (Numbers 32:12) and were spared from God’s judgment.

And so, as I picture you on the cusp of days, months and even years of difficulty I pray for the same spirit of bravery that once filled our ancestor in the faith Caleb–the man whose name your precious son will bear. I pray that the Lord would fill you with the Holy Spirit’s power and strength even in the most trying of times. I ask that the Lord would make his presence so very real to you that you would be able to say to others as Caleb did to the people of Israel “Do not fear; the Lord is with us!”

You are not alone even on your loneliest day, for the Lord our God goes with you. Into every hospital and into every operating room our Savior will keep watch over you; through every sleepless night and long car ride home the Holy Spirit will care for you; and for every moment you are without your loving husband and darling children our heavenly Father will be with you. Take courage dear sister and hear my encouragement from afar, you are the daughter of a loving and gracious God and he will not desert you in your time of need.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV)

With Much Love and By His Grace,

Jessalyn

Join us in honoring Desiré by visiting my friends who have also posted especially for her: Melissa @ Hive Resources, Christina @ To Show Them Jesus, Kristen @ Celebrate Every Day With Me, and Emily @ Redeemed Reader.