DAY 3 - Trusting in God
by Carolin Sadler

When my hope is weak and my strength is gone, I’m GOING TO TRUST IN GOD!

Have you ever dreamed about what you could do or be if nothing stood in the way? I'm not talking just about dreams that you have while you're sleeping, but more like something you wish you could do, or be, or make happen? Did you know that God gives us dreams for our lives and that He has a destiny for each one of us? Do you sometimes feel that these dreams could never come true, so why bother?

Let’s look at a dream that God gave to someone in the Bible.

Haggai was a Jewish prophet that lived in Babylon. One day God put a dream in his heart to go and rebuild the temple that had been torn down in Israel. The Jewish people had been kicked out of Israel and were now living in Babylon. They were being punished for their sin and turning away from our faithful loving God and worshipping idols that had HORRIBLY cruel practices. But God had promised them that He still loved them and that they would return to Israel again one day. So about 70 years later God reminds the people of this promise and even prompts Darius the king of Babylon to agree to help pay for the materials needed to rebuild.

Foundation of 2nd temple is laid.

Zerubbabel and Joshua and some other people hear about this dream and get all excited. They start building and soon the foundation is laid. (Can you say Zerubbabel? Every time you hear his name, shout it out, o.k.? I love the way it sounds)

Let’s look up this story and read all about it in Haggai 1:8 ff.

Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple that I may be pleased with it and be glorified, says the Lord…. Then Zerubbabel…and Joshua…the high priest with all the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet…and the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel (governor of Judah) and the spirit of Joshua…and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts.

However, a short while later a new king came to power. Some of the people living in the Land of Israel at the time didn’t want the temple built. They complained to this new king and he listened and told the people, “Stop building” and decided he wouldn’t help pay for the project either. So the building stopped. (Ezra 4:24)

Now 15 years later, Zerabbubel, again receives a word from the Lord reminding him that he is not finished with the temple. God tells him that He wants to help them finish the work that they started.

So he goes… (who goes?)... to the building site BUT when he looks at what’s really there, the foundation of the temple is built, but tumbleweeds blow across it, and dust blows everywhere. It looks like an abandoned junkyard with weeds and litter. A mountain of a problem he calls it! Where would he start? He turns to God and asks, “Now what?”

So God responds and asks Zer…UBABEL… let's hear it…you got it… to take the capstone, the last
stone that would be laid on a finished building, hold it up and shout GRACE GRACE! (Zechariah 4: 6- 10)

What do you think Grace means here? (Point to the right answer.)
-something you say before you eat
-a girls name
-that there is always enough of Gods spirit to help us do what He asks us to do.

O.K. so imagine him standing there in the middle of town ...he must have looked really lame, holding a huge stone and shouting to a junkyard. In effect he is proclaiming, “I know that this is not reality as I see it but it is as God sees it. See, God looks at a situation as it will be -- the destiny, the potential. He is the God who calls into being that which does not yet exist. After all, he created the world out of nothing!

So Zerabbubel obeys and speaks to this mountain of discouragement, hopelessness, and lost dreams, GRACE GRACE!

Did you know that within a month of Zerabbubel making that proclamation the building of the temple resumed? God always keeps His promises, even if it takes a while!

Activity…
Take the dream that you thought of when you first started reading this, or another dream that you remember now. In your journal, write about or draw a picture of that “dream come true”. If you dream of being a doctor, draw yourself wearing the uniform and doing a surgery, or whatever it is you really think you'll like about being a doctor. If you dream of changing something in your school or country, draw a picture of that. Maybe your dream is that something that is hard for you will change. I want to tell you a secret though, Kids can make a difference. You don’t need to feel that there is nothing you can do now anyways so there is no point dreaming big now.

If you feel that God is encouraging you to dream and trust him to help you, even when you are young then pray.

“Jesus, I choose to believe that even if things are hard, I will trust you. I know that you love me so much and you cannot lie. You always keep your promises. Help me not to try and do things on my own but to wait for your time. God help me to know what dreams you have for me and rest in your arms knowing you will help me. I believe that you will help me even if I am young to make a difference. Please give me the dreams that are on your heart for me.”

After you pray this, change the picture if you get a new or different idea. That might be God speaking to you already and adjusting your dream. If you still have the same idea, and maybe you're even more excited about it now, put that picture on your wall or somewhere you'll see it. Underneath write, “Not by might, nor by power, but by Your Spirit.” Every time you look at this, you can pray that out loud or in your head. It's like Zerubbabel did when he shouted “Grace, grace” -- inviting God's power to work and make things happen His way, when we are powerless to do anything. Then, when one day God opens the door for you to fulfill this dream, step out and obey!

For further study: Look up these passages to see how other kid’s dreams came true with God’s help. 1 Samuel 17: 26-49, 2 Kings 5:3-19 Also if you look at the blog, www.kidsofthekingarise.blog.com under “Yopps heard”, you will see a story of Hannah, a young girl that had a dream of helping the homeless.

Carolin has been working with King’s Kids (a ministry of Youth With A Mission) for 11 years.  She has written 3 books, "Warrior Bride Arise", "On Daddy’s Knees", and "The Blessing".  She also is the moderator of a blog for equipping kids called Kids of the King Arise! (http://kidsofthekingarise.blog.com)  Her work with her husband Doug has led them to equipping kids and teens in intercession and international reconciliation ventures. At present she lives in Winnipeg and is the mother of 3 grown children.

Carolin can be reached by email at carolin@watchmen.org