Why I Believe: Marne Benjamin

Dear Reader,

I’m super excited to share today’s post as written by my sister Marne after being asked why she believes. You’ll see her love for Jesus and her tender heart on her sleeve with grace and beauty as perfectly described in Proverbs 31:25-26:

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

I believe because 

There is evil, trauma, innocence terrorized and brokenness in relationships. There are unanswered questions and paths unseen, outcomes unimagined and decisions that I have asked myself why for years.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

There’s a longing in my heart that we were meant for something more.

Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

And then comes a steady voice saying there is something much greater for me than what I have seen, heard and observed. There’s Grace. A love that I’ve personally inhaled and have been given by no efforts of my own. There’s been Healing. Hope. Redemption. Reconciliation. Love remains a steady current, humbling and satisfying me often in small doses, like liquid gold throughout my veins.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

Despite the brokenness in this world, it is the power of ancient scriptures that offers me hope and keeps me looking, seeking, engaging in relationships to experience and share this power of grace and love that has been given freely to me.  – Marne