Evidence - Mountain Movers

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

(Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

By the time you read this, the tears on my laptop keyboard will have dried and my emotional mess will be organized into words, sentences, and paragraphs that make sense to someone who does not live within me. This week is a very big week for me. Our oldest graduates from high school next weekend – a wonderful event for him but a huge emotional milestone for me. Last spring Josh Baldwin’s song “Evidence” became the background song for a one minute picture/video slideshow for the graduation ceremony. As I looked back through those pictures – snapshots of moments, memories, growing, and so much more – I couldn’t help but cry.

“The days are long but the years are short” is so true. I have labored and labored and labored in his education – trying to help this amazing, brilliant young man grow into the fullness of who God has created him to be, in the midst of navigating dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and the executive function struggles that come with those things. All this while trying to keep his selfhood intact so that his identity is not as someone with a learning disability, but as an amazing, fearfully-and-wonderfully made child of our God who has a purpose and a plan for his life.

As I listened to the words of this song, I cried. God’s faithfulness has walked beside me and beside him. The evidence of God’s faithfulness through all those struggling years can be seen in his young-adult but growing skills, self confidence, and passion for the Lord. I can see the evidence of God’s goodness on his life as he launches into adulthood with a growing understanding of God’s call on his life, with the growing skills to chase that call, and with the love and support of people of great and positive influence in his life.

So, if you see me with tears in my eyes this week, remember that it’s because I’m so grateful to God for his faithfulness in raising this child to adulthood.

God,

Lord, you are our God; we will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. As we enter the graduation season this year, help us to remember your faithfulness to parents and others who have raised amazing young people. Thank you for all the evidence of your goodness in the people, physical, and other resources needed to help children and young adults grow into the fullness of who you have created them to be. Teach these graduates your way, Lord, that they may rely on your faithfulness. Give them undivided hearts so they will fear your name and glorify you forever. Help them remember when they are weak that you are their strength. Help them remember that your perfect peace casts out fear. Help them call on you, pray to you and seek you because you will listen and you will be found by them. Help them remember your cross, the empty grave, and the Holy Spirit that lives within them. May their faith give them confidence to move forward in hope toward the future you have for them. Appoint your love and faithfulness to protect them and go with them wherever they go. We ask in the strong name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” (Isaiah 25:1 NIV)

“May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.” (Psalm 61:7 NIV)

“Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.” (Psalm 86:11-12 NIV)

“Perfect love gets rid of fear. (1 John 4:18 GW)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV)

“Evidence”

All throughout my history

Your faithfulness has walked beside me

The winter storms made way for spring

In every season, from where I’m standing

I see the evidence of Your goodness

All over my life

I see Your promises in fulfillment

All over my life

Help me remember when I’m weak

Fear may come but fear will leave

You lead my heart to victory

You are my strength and You always will be

See the cross, the empty grave

The evidence is endless

All my sin rolled away

Because of You, oh Jesus