But God…

But God knows the way I take
When he has tried me
I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23

For all the things we think we can predict, this much is true. We cannot predict what God will do with a child.

Jesus was born of a young mother. From before his birth, questions swirled about regarding his parentage. Though Joseph married Mary, people still considered Jesus to be a bastard child, an illegitimate child. How can a human being be “illegitimate”? That’s another question for another day.

But the point is — because of his parentage, the circumstances surrounding his birth, etc., not much was expected of Jesus. Yet, 2000 plus years later, people are still committing his words to heart. People are still inspired by his humility. People still believe…

Just goes to show you what God can do with a child. Any child. Anybody anywhere.

God does know the way we take. God knows the pitfalls, the difficulties, the joys, the sorrows. And, God knows how those circumstance serve to shape our personalities, character and potential.

God does try us. Like a mother who places a ball just out of the reach of a toddler so that the toddler will step out and walk, God stretches us and calls us forth. Sometimes, we go forth through painful territory, but…

You shall come forth as gold. Being gold does not mean being shiny and passing for “bling.” Being gold means being valuable. You are incredibly valuable. Your value is not determined by the standards of the world, but by the hope of God.

For those of you who are walking with children, here’s a message to press into their hearts: muster up the strength to walk through adversity because your walk is not solitary; your walk is not in vain. With each difficult step forward you will learn to drop more of the world’s shiny, heavy, burdensome, useless bling and own the courage to accept the value you have in God’s eyes.

Press that into their hearts by showing them how much they are valued.

Fight for all children to live in healthy, violence free communities.
Fight for all children to have comprehensive health and mental health coverage.
Fight for all children to have good schools and quality after school programs.
Fight for all children to have strong, loving and supportive families.

Fight for the gold.

Amen