The Hidden Prince

by Tessa Afshar

I had come along when my mother had believed herself too old to bear more children. She named me Keren-happuch, after Job’s youngest daughter.

“The question is, will you let God give you the strength to climb this mountain? Will you trust him to give you feet like those of the deer?”

You could barely tell them apart from the other residents of the land anymore. They were slowly being absorbed into the world around them.

“God wants your hearts to learn to endure, too. Endure in love. Love him even when he seems absent. Love him when he has offended or disappointed you. Love him when you feel he has not protected you.”

you do not learn to lean into God’s enduring love, in time, you might become slaves to bitterness. And that’s a far worse slavery than merely being captives in Babylon.”

Even if he does not take away this pain? Even if he does not restore your independence, your strength, your health? Will you still choose him, even if? Choose him every day?”

What I discovered was that although the healing of my shattered heart remained a long way off, I could press on with life. I had no joy. No taste of happiness. But I could function.

His world had become hard. His heart did not have to follow suit.

God was reminding me to endure. To trust in him in the midst of so much discouragement. Something in my soul bowed before that invitation. I would limp out of bed tomorrow and be brave. And I would

“Grace means allowing room for someone to grow.”