Debbie W. Wilson

Refreshing Faith

Sometimes We Discover God in the Midst of Disappointment

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My teenaged heart awoke to God while lying on my back on a dock staring at stars visible only to someone away from city lights. The smell of the marsh, the rhythmic lap of the river, and the chirping night symphony cast a spell that made me feel small, yet part of something magnificent. David surely felt this magic when he wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Ps. 19:1).

Abraham also felt it. “For the Scriptures tell us, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith’” (Rom. 4:3, nlt). Genesis says this happened while he gazed at the stars.

Abraham had just defeated four wicked kings to rescue Lot, and he’d given up his rightful monetary reward. Perhaps he worried these kings would seek retribution. Or, in hindsight, had he been foolish not to take his fair share of the booty? Maybe he was just worn out from battle. Whatever his state, God understood Continue Reading

The Stunning Way a Father Impacts Our View of God

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Father’s Day, like many holidays, taps a variety of emotions. Gratitude for the faithful fathers in our midst, longing for the ones who are gone, and confusion over the ones who abandoned their roles. Let’s look at the impact human fathers have on our view of our heavenly Father and God’s provision for healing the wounds broken fathers leave behind.

A Father’s Influence

God sent John the Baptist before the coming of His Son “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children…to make ready for the Lord a people prepared” (Luke 1:17 ESV). How would turning the hearts of the fathers to the children prepare the way for Jesus? A counseling course helped me understand the important influence fathers have in their children’s relationship with God.Continue Reading

The Divine Dance Between God’s Sovereignty and My Responsibility

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Jackie is a dog whisperer. She calls herself a dog trainer, but if you watch this four-foot, eleven-inch woman handle a 150-pound dog, you’d know what I mean. I wanted Jackie to help me train our five-month-old puppy, but I couldn’t find her. I’d searched my emails and phoned where she used to work before running out of leads.

I do interior design work on the side. Every time I planned to visit the seamstress, something interfered. On a whim, I called another gal. On the way to her workroom, I again thought of Jackie. Imagine my curiosity when I spied a simple sign next door to the new seamstress’s shop that read “Dog Trainer.” A smaller sign in the window read “Jackie’s Dog Training.” Could it be the Jackie?Continue Reading

Are You Worried You’ll Make the Wrong Decision?

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Did you ever play blindfold games when you were a child? I remember one in which the blindfolded partner navigated through a maze by following instructions from a trusted partner. “Three steps forward. Stop. Sidestep right.” Success depended on a trustworthy guide and a trusting listener. Sometimes trying to discern God’s will in a decision feels like playing blindfolded.

When I pray, I hope to receive clear directives like: Go with this doctor. Attend this conference. Send your child to this school. Move to this neighborhood. Instead, like the childhood game, God often says, “Take two steps forward; stop.”

It seems more efficient to say, “Put your child in this school,” than to say, “Call Sarah; see how her children did there. Sidestep. Attend a homeschool convention. Turn around; visit your public school.”Continue Reading

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