What Faith DOES

As I think over the year that just folded to a close behind us, one particular song seems to sum up so many of the experiences and memories I was so blessed to have in 2009. Kutless’ “What Faith Can Do” is an amazing reminder to me of all that I have seen God do the past twelve months in both my own personal life and all those other little lives in Ch*na that God chose to intersect into mine. The chorus of that song goes like this:

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Last January, my friend Kaisha and I were just two teenagers with one crazy big dream of going to Ch*na to meet the two little sponsor girls we had lost our hearts to via photos and sponsorship updates. A few months later, our moms and her grandma had made the leap of faith to get themselves mixed up in our whole adventure. Though outwardly we were doing all the planning and scheming, working and dreaming to get ourselves across the ocean to our little girls, it became so clear to us over the months that there was a much bigger picture behind our efforts, a grander Architect who was sovereignly overseeing every detail. We came to see that it was really God who was plucking us out of our comfortable lives in America and setting us down in the midst of one hundred special needs orphans in Ch*na, knowing fully how the experience would shape not just 10 days in July 2009, but our entire lives from that point forward. He pricked our secure and protected hearts, causing them to break and bleed in a whole new way. The little bit of faith we had, mingled with a little bit of hope and lots of prayer, was stretched and increased beyond our wildest expectations. We watched God work a miracle in our hearts, causing us to love His little ones and trust His providence like never before. And the trip was just the beginning.

God continues to use our processing of last summer and all of the related experiences to plant mustard seeds of faith deep in our hearts. Both Kaisha and I know that we will never be the same two girls who boarded the plane for Be*jing in July...we will forever be changed and forever grateful to God for His sanctifying and redeeming work in our hearts because of little people in a Ch*nese orphanage and life lessons learned through mixing our lives up with them. As we’ve continued to stay connected with the orphanage and children there, I have been amazed at how the words of the Kutless song above continue to ring true time and time again. I’ve watched miracles happen as children we met in July, even those we thought were too sick or old to be adopted, have been sovereignly placed by God into loving Christian families. My sweet Margaret girl, who had no hope of a mommy or daddy in July, was part of one of these adoption miracles this winter. We’ve had to let go of precious Mei-Mei, clinging to a faith that God would use the pain of her loss somehow for our ultimate good while being joyful in the Hope that she is now a completely new creature in Christ. Her broken heart has literally become brand new, as the song says. And now, just recently, I've had the incredible joy of hearing that one of my own former sponsor girl’s heart condition, which was completely inoperable in Ch*na, may be able to be fully corrected now that she is in the States. I am in awe.

This is what faith...true faith in the true God of the universe...can accomplish. And more. And so, I look expectantly into this New Year, eager to embrace every experience that God sends my way, whether it tests, tries, delights, humbles, or strengthens me. Because I know God is always good. Always worthy of my trust and surrendered heart. And He will continue to do mighty things and change my heart and my life because of the journey He took us on last summer. God, may 2010 present me with even greater opportunities to increase my faith in You and see You work in mighty ways!