Building an Altar: January Update

A month away, 

a month at home. 

I have been back for nearly a month now - possibly the best month to be in NCW. I mean - come on! Snow, sledding, Christmas, New Year's, not to mention the opportunity to do my way-more-complicated-since-I-rented-out-my-condo income taxes. 

Plus, I got a trip to San Francisco out of it (to go to the Spanish consulate - remember?). Granted, I was alone...and super stressed a majority of the time (more complications with the visa)...oh, and slightly fearful for my life, walking through some pretty ghetto parts. As it turns out, being alone and being disappointed are actually really good ways to grow in faith and trust. Go figure!

(You've got to understand - I'm choosing to treat that subject lightly so as not to spend too much time on it. In truth, I was ugly-crying in my San Francisco hotel room, pleading with God for answers as to why nothing seemed to be working out. But I'm telling the truth when I say God did work all this for good.)

To those who have been reading my blog posts these past months, do you sense a theme? Because I sure do. I wouldn't say I ever thought I needed more or bigger faith. It's always been pretty easy for me to see things in black and white. Either it's of God or it isn't. If He says to do it, I will. If not, I won't. If I pray, He'll answer...sometime. I never wasted much time asking God why something happened, or doubting His sovereignty.

But this whole process has opened up weaknesses I didn't know I had. For instance, did I really believe it was God who allowed me to graduate college debt-free? Or did I kind of credit it to my mad money management skills? And did I really think God was the one who gave me a teaching job? Or did I chalk it up somewhat to my endearing qualities and connections in the district?

Oh, I've known the pride in me. I just never saw before how pride affects my faith in God. 

For the first time, I know what it is like to do everything right... yet fail. Repeatedly. And it shook my faith a bit. Because, all along, my faith had been partly in God, and partly in myself, my efforts, my merits. When my efforts weren't enough to produce the results I wanted, I could either despair or deepen my faith in the God who is faithful to His promises.

The Biblical Abraham, often referred to today as the Father of Faith, was called by God to "leave [his] country, [his] people, and [his] father's household and go to the land [God] will show [him]." (Genesis 12:1) Abraham left as God had instructed. Later, when God confirmed His promise to Abraham (that his offspring would inherit the land), Abraham praised God and built an altar. This was a practice that all of the patriarchs observed - building an altar, often to commemorate an encounter with God. Sometimes, they even named the altar based on the nature of the divine encounter.

[Fun fact: God used Genesis 12:1 to confirm my Spain trip to me.]

So, this Friday, as I leave my country and go to Madrid for another 6 months, I leave behind a figurative altar that I have named "God is faithful to His promises." And I praise God that He has placed me in disappointing and frustrating situations to help me see His faithfulness.

As always, feel free to ask questions or comment below! And, if time permits, enjoy this song👇

Hasta pasta, 

Dahlia

To view previous posts in this series, click on the links below:

July: The Comeback
August: While I'm Waiting
October: An Exercise in Trust
November: Spain-bound!
December: Wanted