Stephen Anthony Ray

Earlier today, I was sitting in class daydreaming when God suddenly gave me a glance into the not too distant future. Like never before, he allowed me to look deep down into one of my most fundamental and deepest desires: that of having a family. Often, I think that we Christians (especially myself) spend so much time fighting our “sinful” desires that we forget to really engage with the deeply good. And looking deeply within myself, I saw myself taking my boys to fish. I saw myself having tea parties with my little girl. I saw myself coming up behind my wife and surprising her by wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her closer to me as I kiss her neck andwhisper sweet affirmations into her ear. I saw myself tickling and wrestling my kids when they all run up to me as I walk in from work. I saw myself holding them tightly whenever they hurt, teaching them how to love and trust in Jesus. I saw myself praying with my wife, that I would honor and cherish her upon the profession of such a promise in our vows. And more than everything I saw, I felt a warm, urgent sensation that one day that wonderful man; that dad and that husband…he will one day be me. I will one day be him.

As the vision came to its end, I asked my Lord in hopeless despair how I could ever be such an awesome man. I daily struggle with various sins. I constantly fail. I often question my own faithfulness to you. How in the world can I get from here to there? He softly answered, “You don’t have to be perfect. If you just walk with me, I will take you there…and farther.”

SRay