Reversal of Destiny

 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's; upon them he has set the world. I Samuel 2:8

You know what all these gorgeous young faces have in common?   

First, they all grew up in the US foster care system.

Second, against all odds they attended college and some even graduate school already.

Third, they have all been selected to work on Capitol Hill as congressional interns for the summer.

Fourth, they all desire to bring about positive change for children still languishing in the system.

And Finally, that each one of them clearly believes in a promising change of destiny for their own lives.  (a reversal of fortunes if you will).

And  based on what I have come to know about each of them and more importantly based on what I know about the truths of God's Word, I too, believe with them for such a reversal of destiny in their lives. 

Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5

(Taken in my home during the last night candlelight service of the FYI Retreat in my hometown of Danville, PA.)

Things have been really busy in the Hasenbalg household lately, which is why the Hasen-BLOG has been neglected.

But, for your sake I’ll skip sharing my personal family events (you all have your own to focus on anyhow) and share a bit about this one Biblical theme that has been surfacing in my heart for many weeks now and which came to a head during this candlelight service for the foster youth interns. It is the notion of the poor and weak becoming wealthy and strong and the wealthy and strong becoming poor and weak.  It is the idea that the God who sees the suffering of the poor will eventually lift them up from the ash heap!

And by the poor I am referring to both the poor in spirit (meaning humble) and the poor in financial means because I think that the Bible often refers to both ideas together when it mentions the poor. 

 I am very aware that it is possible to be both wealthy and godly and also both poor and prideful.  So, when referring to the poor, I am referring to those who have been downcast and remained humble; and when referring to the wealthy, I am referring to those who have much wealth and keep it for themselves and share little due to their pride in believing they are better than the poor. (and before we each decide that we aren't in the rich category we ought to remember that anyone who has a car is in the top 1% of the wealthiest people in the world.)

Over the last few days, this idea of the poor and weak becoming rich and powerful literally came to life right before my eyes through these foster youth interns, and I wanted to write about it just then. However, I am glad I didn’t because it was just yesterday when I finally watched the Beth Moore Esther video that I learned the right terms to assign to this irony.  The first is the term“reversal of destiny or reversal of fortunes.”  And the second is “peripety"; and Peripety refers to the hinge on which the reversal of destiny turns.  Basically the moment things begin to change.

Right there in my home I realized that I was witnessing Peripety in the lives of these young people.  It may sound presumptuous to say such a thing about a moment that just took place, but having been a part of this program for the better part of ten years, and having seen almost 80 Foster youth interns come through the program, I have past experience on my side to now be able to see much more clearly what is taking place right before my eyes (and perhaps from heaven's perspective as well).  For most of these young people who choose to remain humble of heart these internships prove to be the beginning of a reversal of their destinies. 

In Chapter six of the book of Esther, when Haman (the bad guy) is forced to give the blessings from King Xerxes that He thought were due him to his arch-enemy, Mordecai the Jew, instead, we see a profound “reversal of destiny" starting to take place.  The prideful is abased and the humble one is lifted up in the presence of his enemy.

Beth Moore went on to say that reversal of destiny is what the whole Christian life and the plan of God is about.  For example: He who knew no sin became sin for us…Paul, the persecutor of Christians became the most persecuted Christian in his day.

On Tuesday night, when I was privileged to host these 16 amazing young people in my home, I realized that what I was seeing was a perhaps a small glimpse of what God sees happening in the heavenlies, and what I believe will be played out much more clearly and profoundly when we are all with Him there.  God will take all our pain and suffering that we have given to him to redeem and make it into something rich and beautiful, healing and good.  And that even here, we are often blessed to experience, Romans 8:28, lived out in our own lives.  "All things work together for good (even the bad) for those who love God and are called according to His purposes."

These precious ones, who had in many ways been put down by a system that has historically and statistically not put children first, are now being lifted up and placed in positions to help oversee this very system and bring about change.  A few years ago one of the interns, who interned for Senator Clinton, went on to help oversee the DC child welfare system working for the Mayor of DC and is now in law school studying to be a child welfare attorney. Now that's some reversal of destiny.  I once knew a woman who had been a foster child then who went on to be Miss USA 2000 and subsequently to join us in traveling the globe and advocating on behalf of orphans world-wide. Can you say, "Modern-Day Esthers"

Let's see some of what the Word has to say on the subject:

 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's; upon them he has set the world. I Samuel 2:8

“Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Rev. 3:17-18

So what about me - what about those of us who grew up with a mom and a dad and always had enough food to eat and a roof over our heads - and went on vacations and the like....  Unlike many of these kids, my birthdays were always celebrated and I wasn't abused by those who were supposed to be caring for me. What about me? Am I destined for abasement because of my early fortune?  Certainly not.....that is if I will join the company of those who consider the poor.  You see we need the orphan probably more than the orphan need us.  For they are truly a part of our sanctification.  

We, who have, are truly honored to join in considering the poor, for in this work we become rich according to the heavenly purse and store up treasures in heaven.  So, thank you interns for coming and blessing me!  

Blessed is the one who considers the poor!*
In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; Psalm 41:1

 

Comments

[Debbie from Ohio]

I am so glad that were able to host these wonderful young people. It is so good to see a glimpse of beauty for ashes! God's multiple blessings on their lives!

[Kim]

I am so excited for these interns! It breaks my heart when I think of foster kids who age out of the system, are mistreated by the system, or end up without any permanence. I am so thankful that God chose us to be the parents of a little boy who was placed in foster care. I can't imagine my life without him. My sons reversal of fortune was my husband's and my reversal of fortune as well. We are truly more blessed to have him as our son then he is to have us as parents. God took our infertility and gave us our son. He truly works all things for good!

[Ann]

Nice to read your words, your passion on the subject leaps off the page! God bless these interns. I think it's time to find Esther...

Ann from Chicagoland

[cindi m.]

What a beautiful post, Kerry, filled with hope and promise! I keep going back to where you said "We need the orphan probably more than the orphan needs us. For they are truly a part of our sanctification." Tremendous food for thought,Sis.

Thanks for sharing!

[Rachel Singer]

Kerry, i have just spent the past hour reading over your blog for the past months. I am so sorry for what you have gone through. But what a great example of how to suffer with grace. Thank you for that example; especially during these months for me and my family. Thank you!

Rachel Singer (Paul Singer's daughter)