Day 1: How will I {WORSHIP} in the famine season?

~ Lisa Brittain

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. Ruth 1:1

I was there when each of our two sons prayed to Jesus and asked Him to live in their hearts. I was also there when each of our two sons was baptized. And I was there when each of our sons, not wanting to hurt my feelings, asked me to stop talking to them about Jesus.

{worship}

For me, wife of one husband and mother of two sons, these are opposite sides of the same coin. The best of motherhood on one side and the worst of motherhood on the other, at least for a mother who committed herself to raising sons in a Christian home.

As each of our two sons prepared to leave home for college I gave each one my ‘flying the nest’ speech. It went something like this:

I’ve taught you all I know to teach you. I’ve told you all I know to tell you. And I’ve shown you all I know to show you. You’ve been raised in the truth of the Word of God – certainly not perfect, but I’ve given you my best. And so now, I send you out to find your own personal faith – to make it your own and to know that you know what you believe.

Honestly, both of our sons love me and respect me. They did then and they do now. I know for a fact neither one wanted to hurt me. I also know for a fact they left on their own journey each one two years apart hoping to leave the church/faith stuff at home like all the stuff they left in their closets.

As our oldest left home, I asked the Lord for a Scripture to use in prayer for this son. The Lord answered with abundant mercy to my weary mind, heart, and soul. He gave me a dream and truth from His word.

In my dream, I could see this son moving through an open door, which I was unable to walk through. I was terrified at first, but the Lord allowed me to stand at the door and look. To my pure delight, I could see our son walking with Jesus at his side, arm around our son’s shoulder, conversing and laughing along a pathway.

I awoke full of hope with this Scripture on my lips…

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

And I have been proclaiming this hopeful truth for our son regularly since 2009. Though he left our home in a spiritual famine, Jesus has been teaching me to worship Him through the truth of His word in prayer and continually holding up the dream He gave me for an anchor of hope.

give thanks to You God

As our second son left our home for college, I asked again for a Scripture through which to knot and anchor my prayers for him. This is the one who, after hearing my ‘flying the nest’ speech, left me with these words, “Mom, you have faith for me.” (In other words, you do it for me)

This last leaving was more painful. I felt the spiritual famine. My heart pleaded for a dream. No dream. And the Scripture the Lord gave me was this…

I give thanks to You God for You are good and Your steadfast love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

My thoughts ran to Naomi (Ruth 1) and they still do at times. I wondered…often…many times with tears, “Lord, what does this mean?”

Give thanks even if my son is living in a spiritual famine? Declare you are good even if he doesn’t remember the truth sewn into the fabric of his being? Proclaim and stand on the truth that your steadfast love endures forever even if he never receives your love for him?

I’ve been praying, I give thanks to You God for You are good and Your steadfast love for our son endures forever, as an act of worship since 2011.

And yes… it is true… and I do… Give thanks to You God. You are good. Your steadfast love endures forever…. even in the midst of spiritual famine.

Ponder:

  • Are you in a spiritual famine season?
  • What emotions are bubbling up as you read about worship through a season of spiritual famine? Will you record these emotions in a journal?
  • Will you take your thoughts, your questions, your emotions into the Throne Room of God, sit at Jesus’ feet and ask Counselor Holy Spirit to help you filter it all through the truth of God’s Word?
  • Will you allow God to teach you to praise and worship Him through the famine season? We give thanks to You God for You are good and Your steadfast love endures forever. Amen.

Published by Lisa Brittain

I am an avid follower of Jesus. I have been since my early twenties when I met Him personally and received dramatic healing in my body and mind. After many years of marriage and raising sons into the teen years, I was challenged to explore the duplicity of my spoken faith followed up by fearful actions. I received the challenge presented by both of my sons. They love me and so they dared to confront me with the truth. Chips off my proverbial block! I determined then {more than a decade ago} to overcome fear with faith that was more than words. In my late 40's I made a decision to leave the desert wandering behind and set out to pursue the abundant life Jesus promised His disciples. I am a tentmaker {actually a reupholsterer} by day, which helps to support the call God has on my life to serve Him in my community. I thoroughly enjoy my work. Repairing and restoring throw-away furniture is a fulfilling creative outlet. More so, my Cheer House Repair and Restore business opens the door for me to interact with my community. My passion is to walk so closely to Jesus that others want to know Him too. I love to introduce women to Him as we walk, talk, and work together hand in hand through everyday life. Nothing thrills me more than to watch someone fall so in love with Jesus through His word and conversation; learning to trust His heart and receive His great love! I have been married to my dear man for over 30 rollercoaster years. We're simply thrilled that our latter days are more joyful and purposeful than our first. Together we have two - grown young men on their own journeys. Additionally, we share our home with 3 lively rescue pups. I look forward to having you join me on this journey of faith... Bold feet, humble heart Psalm 131 ~ Lisa

4 thoughts on “Day 1: How will I {WORSHIP} in the famine season?”

  1. Famine seasons are hard to be thankful for and thankful in. I’m with you and Klaudia; may we all persevere and keep reaching for Him. May we seek Him in the dry, thirsty land.

    1. Thank you, Marie! Thanks for taking time to read this post of mine. I am changed each time I choose to submit my thoughts to God. I pray we are all experiencing Jesus’ presence as we meditate in His word. I like following your writing as well.💝

  2. The last several years have been difficult to say the least. I think of this time as a period of dormancy. No perceptible growth but still faith that there is activity below the surface. The two verses that I return to again and again are Luke 15:17 (“But when he came to himself…” from the Prodigal parable–a indication of the free will that God gives us) and a paraphrase of Daniel 13:18 (“And if not, He is still good.”) And I think often of Monica, mother of Augustine (whose feast day happens to be my birthday:) who prayed for years for her hedonistic son to turn to Christ and whose prayers were finally answered in the most beautiful way.
    Christ gives me grace each day and I am not without hope.
    Thank you for your lovely words, Lisa.

    1. Thank you so much, Klaudia, for joining in the conversation and for adding truth and wisdom. I am encouraged by you as you choose to persevere. Let’s hold each other up in prayer and persevere together… believing and trusting God is good and His steadfast love endures forever!
      Thank you for walking alongside!

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