Reflections for Lent

Genesis 22:1-19 NRSV

After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.

I'm Listening

Have you ever heard God speak to you? I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard a booming voice speak and tell me what to do. However, I have had an immense feeling come over me and urge me to act. I was driving down the road late at night after receiving some tragic news about someone. This person and his family were heavy on my heart at the time. I didn’t know the family well, but one of the family members was an acquaintance whom I hadn’t spoken with in a long time. Suddenly, I got this overwhelming feeling to call her. 

I wasn’t even sure what to say, but I was sure I needed to call her. It was this surreal push to act that I still can’t explain. I stopped the car and thought to myself, “God, it’s so late. Do I really need to call this time of night? Do I still have her number? What will she think? What will I even say?” I was able to find her number and gave her a call. It was a quick conversation expressing my love and support. When the conversation ended, I was overcome with emotion. It was as if a barrier had been broken. I felt closer to God than I ever had. God used that moment to bring me closer to Him. 

It wasn’t about something I did to help the family that night. God was able to meet all their needs. It was about if I would act. Would I step out of my comfort zone and do what I felt God was telling me to do? Regardless of it seeming silly to call someone whom I hadn’t spoken with in ages during that late-night moment, would I do it? Would I listen? Would I act? That moment led to me growing spiritually in ways I had never imagined. I went from attending church to feeling church, feeling God, deep in my soul, while sitting in a pew or sitting in my car. 

My formal prayers became conversations with God. I talked, I shared, I listened, and I acted. Taking the time to listen and respond in those moments strengthens my faith and helps me share His love with others. 

~Lauren Vande-Stouwe~ 

Dear Lord, help me to slow down, focus, and listen to You. Give me the courage to listen and act on the things You put on my heart so that my life will be a testimony of Your love. Amen.