“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!” (Luke 1:45). This is what Elizabeth said to Mary regarding her acceptance of God’s promise for her and for so many others. Mary was chosen by God to take part in His plan to redeem mankind and she accepted. She believed, and was blessed.
Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness (Gen 15:6). Here again, God makes a promise and someone believes Him and is blessed for believing. Abram had no good reason to believe that he would be the father of many nations, except that God said it to him. Today we believe in gravity, we believe in this country, we believe we can fly (okay…not really, that is just an old 90’s tune thrown in for good measure, just showing my age). Sure, we can be pretty cavalier about what we “believe” in…but believing is more than the head knowledge we hear about today; it is a heart knowledge. Belief requires acceptance and causes commitment. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear, built an ark to save his family (Heb 11:7). You are really stepping out there when you build a boat in the desert.
Did you ever build boat in the desert? Did you ever step out there? Trusting in Christ is like building a boat in the desert – you do not see the coming storm unless you believe the Word that God has spoken, the promises He has made – then you know you need that boat, you know you need that Savior. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18).
It is really a wonderful thought. That God would, so many times, use the unlikely heroes, go against the odds, do the impossible, just to show us who He is. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland (Is 43:19).
Please take a moment to share with me something absurd or improbable that the Lord has done in your life. Did you ever build a boat in the desert? I just did and you are riding on it! “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!” (Luke 1:45).
My call to build my boat in the desert came in a form I never thought would happen. At 27, I was facing something that I thought would not ever happen. I had married my high school sweetheart and now we were facing divorce after 7 years of marriage. After lots of counseling and prayers, I remember waking up one morning and realizing what was next and I couldn't believe what I was about to go forward and do. I was scared – I was going to be alone – what would people say – how would they react…then I realized I wasn't alone and who cared about others as long as I had the Lord walking with me. Once I "built my boat" & started helping myself, then the Lord was right beside me, walking along beside me and life started changing. I believe once we "help" ourselves, then the Lord can helps us and answer prayers beyond our imagination!!! It is a marriage that works both ways!!!!!