Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God...

The above title is a verse from the bible. Hebrews 11: 16. Though I had read this verse and seen it before, this verse ministered to me so powerfully during Hannah's home going. Our Pastor based his sermon on this verse during one of those days.

As Christians we are so focused on the blessings of God. When trials happen, we forget to see the hand of God in it. We cannot understand how God could allow it or how God would be glorified in it. We like to portray our God as a God who blesses. Sure, God is a God who blesses. For reasons we cannot understand he also allows trials and persecutions in the lives of his children. Hebrews 11 is called the 'Hall of Faith'. This chapter talks about the heroes of faith. It talks about mighty things the great men of God did by faith. Interestingly, it also talks about these things.
verse 35-
There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn't deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.

Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours

These are the ones who never received the promise. Yet, they lived in faith and died in faith. Now this is the BEST PART. Verse 16 that says, Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Now, I want to shout aloud to those people who make God a vending machine for blessings, and tell them, faith is not just claiming and receiving. Real faith is when having lost all, you sing, " it is well with my soul.." Real faith is, unconditionally loving your Master, like my husband always says. Real faith is trusting God what ever comes your way. May God bless you with such faith.