Have you ever gotten to the point in your walk with Jesus, when you realize He’s been SO good, and SO faithful for SO long, that you almost HAVE to testify about it?
Centuries and Millenia
Surely, He has been faithful to so many people for hundreds and even thousands of years. People groups, that is.
It’s profound to contemplate the utter patience of God as He cares for His children, keeping them through thick and thin and perfecting them over time as He prepares them for eternal life with Him.
Testimony of Grace
The specific testimony to which I refer is of a much more personal nature. Looking back over the years since my relationship with Jesus was first beginning, it amazes me that those first glimmers of faith occurred so very many years ago, and He is as faithful today as He was on that first day!
It’s one thing for someone to be faithful to you for a year or two, or even a decade … but MULTIPLE decades? … for a HALF a CENTURY?
That is something to write home about.
Decades of Grace
When this was first written, a few weeks ago, it was shortly after my birthday. At this point, several weeks have passed. Specific dates are not the point though. I know it was “around” that time of year when I first sensed a “call” to my heart from Jesus. It’s hard to really explain. I have written about it in the past, and may share more of those specifics over time as needed.
Suffice it to say, there were probably a few years during which my interest in Jesus was growing, and it culminated in several moments near that time of year when I was young, near my birthday; almost certainly in the spring. There were specific moments during which I was transfixed by awe at the beauty of God, as the Holy Spirit beckoned to my heart.
Of course, that was only when I became AWARE of His faithful drawing of my heart. For surely, He was faithful for my entire life, even when I was clueless about Him for the most part.
Those specific moments probably happened about a half century ago!
Good Words
As a young girl, the words about Jesus drew me in at church. I didn’t want to go to the “children’s church”, opting to stay in the main service. Not that it was such a great church. Quite nominal actually. But I wanted to hear the “stories about Jesus”. The words about Him in the Bible were intriguing. And eventually, reading the scriptures for myself, my heart was drawn to the One about whom those words were written.
It’s unclear which came first, my reading of the words in the Bible or the call to my inner person, which later would have resonated with the scriptures. Whichever originated that sense of “calling”, this scripture passage sums it up in many ways:
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.”
(Philippians 2:14-16 NIV)
It was the part about shining like stars, and other translations put it this way: “shine as lights in the world” (ESV) or “Among whom you are seen as bright lights–stars or beacons shining out clearly–in the [dark] world…” (The Amplified Bible)
It’s interesting that my website’s name is Shining River, so connected to what was the original “call” on my heart, but that name was not MY first choice. That URL was chosen after a LOT of back and forth. Of course, to me it seemed to have been steered by the hand of God. If it wasn’t from Him, it was some strange “coincidence” that such a URL was even available in the first place. (Maybe I’ll share that whole story some time in the future.)
Highs and Lows
Over the decades since He first grabbed hold of my heart, there have been highs and lows, and through it ALL, His faithfulness has prevailed. Whether throughout the joys of marriage, child birth, child rearing, music production and ministry, or through the sorrows of our parents’ divorce, deaths of siblings, miscarriage, helping care for parents during challenging times, and even being by my father’s side as He passed from this life, the Lord’s abiding presence has been the source of hope, peace, comfort, strength and joy during each season of life.
All that to say, for those who are just starting out on this journey of faith in Jesus (or want to begin that journey), there is no other Friend who will stand by your side throughout EVERYTHING, even when you are unaware of or disinterested in Him. The journey is not an EASY one (and He never said it WOULD be), but it IS the BEST Way for you to go. In fact, in John 14:6, He said:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
For those who are in seasons of struggle or challenge (and it comes to all of us at one point or another, whether or not we know Jesus), may I encourage you with some scriptures:
“Let us not become weary in doing good. For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
(Galatians 6:9-10)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
20/20 Hindsight
Let me encourage you to look back and remember the times when Jesus showed up, and maybe where He was working, but you weren’t even aware of it.
If you walk with Him long enough, you just may find yourself looking back on a half century or more of His goodness in the midst of it all, and realizing that He has been the most faithful Friend you’ve ever had.
If you find yourself needing to testify, please share of His goodness in the comments section!
Lisa Prokopowitz is a Christian Singer/Songwriter, Podcaster and Blogger who seeks to lift up the name of Jesus and draw hungry hearts unto Him.
Watch the Video version of this Manna From My Father’s Hand episode here (First streaming live at 3 PM eastern on 6/19/2025–come join me in the live chat if you’re free at three!):
https://www.youtube.com/live/QdHKrcTB-7g
The podcast (Audio) version of this episode will be posted here:
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/shining-river9/
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https://manna.shiningriver.com
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