Buried But Not Forgotten

Today, I was looking through some old files and I came across a poem my dad wrote years ago. That old poem had been buried in a mountain of paperwork - buried but not forgotten in my heart. 

He wrote the poem soon after he accepted Jesus to be his LORD and Savior. My dad's salvation was a miracle. An answer to prayer of miraculous proportions. Here is why: 
1. His age - He was 65 years old when he was born again. Statistically speaking only 4% of people get saved after 30. 
2. His past - let's just say it was a little rough. 
3. The language barrier - At the time, he lived in a house of mostly English speaking women and he spoke mostly Spanish.
4. My dad's personality - For as long as I can remember, my dad had always been a quiet, soft-spoken, in the background sort of guy. Growing up, he would sit quietly and listen while 3 strong, opinionated, talk-a-mile-a-minute daughters monopolized conversations. We often talked around him, not necessarily to him.  

I remember the day my dad shyly, but proudly, presented us with his poem. He asked us to gather around the dining table while he read to us this beautiful poem of redemption that the Holy Spirit had downloaded into his heart. I recall sitting there reflecting on the spiritual journey my family had been on, each of us getting saved one by one with my dad being the lone holdout.

As the year 2000 approached, I become burdened in my heart for my dad to get saved. Reaching my dad was difficult. It was as if my mom, sisters and I were living on the opposite side of a large ravine with my dad stranded all alone on the other side. The message of the Good News of salvation never seemed to carry across the wide distance. The devil would steal away the seeds before they could get planted. Finally on Father's Day, 1999, my dad reluctantly agreed to go to a Spanish speaking church service with us. And on that day, the Holy Spirit carried the message of salvation across that ravine to penetrate my dad's heart. The very next Sunday, my dad was born again. 

I often say that my dad's transformation was the fastest and most complete transformation I have ever witnessed. He literally changed heart, mind, and soul overnight. I soon realized that my dad could be my friend. He is not shy when he feels comfortable. He is actually quite a talented ham. He is funny, sarcastic, and along with my beloved mom, he has always been my biggest fan. What a gift from the LORD. God's Word proved true! In Christ, we are a new creation. The old man passes away and the new man lives! 

Sometimes, our faith can be like my dad's old poem - buried but not forgotten in our hearts. Buried beneath the weight of this world. Buried by fear. Buried by worldly possessions and distractions. Buried by illness, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. When our faith is buried it's weak and open to attack of the enemy. The Devil comes to rob, steal, and destroy our peace, faith, and joy. Sometimes, people think that Christians shouldn't get depressed or that if they were truly saved they wouldn't have suicidal thoughts. Yet, the Bible tells us that some of the greatest heroes of the Bible suffered with depression, anxiety, fear, and even moments when they cried out to God for death.

Hannah was so depressed that when she sobbed at the temple Eli, the Priest, thought she was drunk.
Moses was burdened by the weight of caring for God's people for 40 years that in a moment of frustration he lashed out and lost his opportunity to go into the Promise Land.
David poured out his anxiety and depression in the Psalms, showing us that even giant-slayers have moments of weakness.
Gideon struggled with fear.
And, Elijah prayed to die. 

I love the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Elijah was a faithful prophet of God. He defeated 450 false prophets of Baal, he called down fire from heaven, and he did mighty miracles in God's name. Yet, when Jezebel, an agent of the Devil, threatened to kill him, his faith was buried by fear and he ran and hid in a cave. He cried out to God, "I have had enough, LORD. Take my life."

I get Elijah! I feel Elijah! Because, I have prayed that same prayer more times than I care to admit. When I have been in a cave of despair I have prayed to God, "I have had enough, LORD. I just want to go home and be with You in heaven." I know it's terrible and weak. I should be stronger and pray, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) When my faith is buried by my trials and burdens, in moments of sorrow death seems easier than the struggle.

Jesus never promised us we would have an easy life. He actually promised us that in this life we would have trials and persecution. However, He also promised that He would never leave us or forsake us, that He would be with us in the midst of the struggle. Sometimes, we just have to be reminded and strengthened just like Elijah. God did not reprimand Elijah. He didn't say "Why are you being such a coward? Why are you such a weakling?"

No, God sent an angel to provide nourishment for him. God let him sleep and rest. God does the same for us. God sends us angels who can appear in the form of a kind word from a friend, a prayer from a stranger, a hug from a child, or even speaking through the beauty of nature such as a sunflower smiling at you on the way to work. And, just like God spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper, reminding him of His faith and purpose, God speaks to us. His gentle whisper is found in the pages of His Word. His Word jumps off the page and penetrates our heart.  

When our faith is buried by burdens, it is Jesus who takes our burdens upon Himself. He says, "Fix your eyes on Me. Give me your burdens and I will carry them for you. Remember I have sealed you with my Holy Spirit. I will uphold you by my right hand. Call out to Me and I will answer. Seek Me with Your whole heart and I promise You will find Me. I am closer than you think, standing right beside You for I am near the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit." 

So, I am going to frame my dad's poem and hang it in my prayer room so that the next time I'm in a cave of despair, before I pray the "get me out of here, Jesus" prayer, I will remember the poetic words of worship and gratitude penned by a baby Believer in love with Jesus. And my faith, that was temporarily buried but not forgotten, will be set aflame by the Holy Spirit.

I will be gifting my dad a framed copy of his poem. My prayer is that it will reignite that flame of Holy Spirit fire in his heart so that he can finish his race well. Lately, I have felt that the devil is trying to isolate my dad again and carry him across that ravine. I see him retreating into a cave just like Elijah - fearful, depressed, powerless. And just like Elijah temporarily forgot all the miracles God had done for him and through him, weakening his faith, so my dad seems to have forgotten the truth of the words to his own poem. But this time, the devil is not going to win because my dad is surrounded by mighty prayer warriors that will not him let go. We are forming a prayer chain grounding him to the firm foundation of Jesus. And, God is sending angels to minister to him in the form of a godly wife, family, friends, and kind neighbors. At 85 years of age, God still has a plan and purpose for my dad's life. Daniel was in his 80s when he was thrown in the lion's den. Moses was 80 when God called him to rescue His people. Sarah was in her 90s when Isaac was born. So, in God's timeline, it's not over until the chariot comes and takes us home, just like Elijah. 

Sometimes, we all just need a reminder that our faith may have been buried by the schemes of the devil, but it is not forgotten in God's eyes or in our hearts. God has called us to be those nourishing angels for one another. If you have a friend or family member in a cave of despair, be God's messenger of hope. Feed them the Word of God, pray for them to have the Shalom Peace of Jesus so they can sleep and rest, point their eyes to Jesus, and remind them of who they are in Christ - a new creation! The old has passed away and the new man lives!!!

Finally, some of you reading this may be 60+ and your thinking it's too late for me to come to Jesus. If at 30, you only have a 4% chance, than for me it's impossible. Jesus said, "With Me, nothing is impossible." It is never too late. Until we take our last breath, Jesus is reaching out to you. He's that gentle whisper in the wind trying to get your attention. Saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love. I willingly laid down my life for you so that you could have eternal life with Me. I have gone to prepare a place for you so that where I am you can be also. Come home to Me."  All it takes is confessing with your mouth that Jesus is LORD and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved. Don't wait. Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  

Love,
Yolanda

Dad's Poem
Hermanos, quiero pedirles un poquito de atención.

Palabras que me salieron de aqui de mi corazón.

O Divino Padre Celestial, en que en ti todos debemos confiar.

Por que solo tu Señor eres grande y poderoso.

Por eso te alabo yo y así me siento dichoso.

Antes estaba mi mente un poquito equivocada

Pero hoy que creo en Ti, ya a hora no siento nada.

Señor, ya te hable todo lo que yo sentía

Hora quiero que a mis hermanos, junto con la esposa mía,

nos llenas de bendiciones y nos llenas de alegría.
Written by Alfonso Vasquez