I want to tell you a story of two cats. These cats lived in the wilderness of New Hampshire until one day when they ventured onto a nice lady’s property. It was spring. They looked disheveled and in need of nourishment and a good cleaning. I watched the story unfold via Facebook as these two needy cats eventually worked their way to the food dishes that the kind woman left out for them. They would partake of her food eagerly, but whenever she would come near them, they would dart away back into their wilderness. 

After time had passed and the food dishes were gradually moved closer to the house, the cats became comfortable in the woman’s presence though they would not let her near them. Knowing that winter and the cold weather was soon approaching; the tender lady kept leaving the door to her house open as the cats ate, hoping that they would venture inside. She would coax them with food, but it took some time for them to risk moving across the threshold. There was such excitement the day they finally went into the house to have a look around. 

This loving woman wanted so much to take care of them and shelter them, but she knew that they were still very unsure. These two feral cats did not want to be domesticated. After that first venture into the house, however, they began exploring more and more until finally one day, they stayed in the basement part of the house all day. When the cold weather came, the cats would happily snuggle up in one of the beds provided in the basement, but they still did not dare come into the main part of the house. The freezing cold winter weather kept them both from going outside and eventually they began to wander around the main part of the house. The happy lady would post pictures of the cats sitting on the window sill or the sofa. Eventually a picture popped up with one of the cats sleeping soundly at her feet while she watched TV. The tagline of that photo could have been “I guess they belong to me now!”

The reason I tell you this story is because it reminded me of my own spiritual walk. I wonder how many of you can relate. One of the most important foundations we can build in our faith is trust. I remember when I was disheveled and in need of spiritual nourishment after spending most of my life in the wilderness of unbelief. Where were you before you finally stepped inside the boundary of God’s Promised Land? God fed me through undeserved blessings such as children I was told I would never have and the experience of miracles I could not explain. I hungrily partook of His food but whenever He drew near to me, I would rush back into the wilderness of unbelief that I knew so well. Thankfully love is patient, love is kind. God would still bless me even when I ran away. 

Through the child He blessed me with, God’s Word was brought into our home and I began to feed on that. Little did I know that God was coaxing me closer and closer to His heart through the nourishment I found in His Word. How about you? Do you remember a time when God’s Word drew you closer to Him even though you tried to keep your distance? Just as those cute little cats began to understand that the motive of the sweet lady’s heart was to love and protect them from the danger of the winter she knew was coming, I began to understand the same truth about God’s heart. He kept leaving the door open and I kept wandering inside but felt my place was in the basement, not the house. Have you ever let the guilt of your past or your own lack of self-worth keep you in the basement when God wants you in the house with Him? Then the day comes when Jesus walks into that basement and brings you up to the house. He so gently rips up the weeds of unbelief and shame and guilt growing in our hearts.  He seals up the foundation of trust between us and says “You belong to me now!”  And He calls us Beloved, Redeemed, Forgiven and Beautiful.  I find the best place to be is contentedly purring at His feet as I find rest there for my soul no matter what the weather is like outside the house.

Do you need to ask God to firm up your foundation of trust? Are you still dwelling in the basement when He has a place just for you in His house? In John 14:2-3 Jesus says “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” His motive is love, His method is compassion and His way is truth. Jesus is trustworthy –just think about all the ways He has proven it to you in your walk with Him.  Sometimes in order to trust Him more we need to remember where we were in the wilderness and how far He has brought us into the Promised Land. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 3:11)

Let Him firm up the foundation of your faith. Jesus says to you: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.” (John 14:1)