PURE INTENTIONS

He put down the bag of chips from which he was clearly stealing another handful. Where did he put it all?

“Take a hike, Pastor,” Hope teased.

He was more silent than Julia anticipated he might be as they climbed the path up the miniature mountain overlooking the winding Oregon coastline. They hadn’t taken time to seek God together yet, and Julia hoped that doing so would confirm what was already going off in her heart.

The warm wind danced through her hair and the music from the sea played a melancholy tune as the surf scrambled toward the white sands below. Martin stood beside her as close as her own breath, and she realized she’d never known a more majestic moment as they peered out at the endless rolling waters and the far away horizon.

“She’s remarkably unscathed by adolescence,” Julia sighed with her gaze fixed heavenward. “God has answered every prayer I’ve ever had for her.” She stared into the clouds then closed her eyes to listen to the sea. “He’s been true to His word,” she said, letting a tear make a path down her cheek. “I’ve always loved the scripture that says, ‘He is able to do abundantly above what we could ever ask or think’.” Her back was against his chest, and she snuggled closer with her arms crossed in front of her. “I don’t think she even knows how His hand has been on her all her life, but I think she’ll understand in time.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The Langfords must be wonderful people. I want to write and tell them so.”

His arms were strong around her but gentle with expectancy. She knew by the way he held her that he wanted to hold her very much. They’d come to heal and find the will to go on. Talk stilled as they let themselves soak this in and wait to hear the whisper of God they longed for.

She moved only to put her hands over her husband’s and lean further into his embrace. They’d returned to this bluff one last time to watch the sun beckon the moon into evening. Streams of fading gold and purple began to backlight the waves as they toppled over themselves. A flock of gulls sang to each other, searching for a resting place. The beach below was empty and its beauty spread in front of them as far as forever. The watercolor of moss-draped trees on lush green hills jutting to the sea were becoming shadows in the moonlight.

“I want to come back even before I leave.” Her eyes harbored happy tears. “Hey,” she whispered. “Do you even know the comfort you give me?”

“We’ll come back, darling,” he replied, turning her to face him. He touched her cheek with his and kissed her, and taking her face in his hands, he gave her the assurance he knew she needed. “We can beat this thing, Julia,” he said. “God knows we need Him.”

As uncomfortable as it might be to face what awaited them in Hillside, he believed they were right where they were called to be. He looked out at the ocean again.

“It’d be easy to give up,” she confessed, staring into the sunset.

“Not an option. Not for us.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “It’s a God thing, Julia, and people are watching our lives.”

With that, they both became silent again. For several soul-searching minutes there was just the two of them and the breeze circling in the branches above.

“Too much, too soon, too fast,” she sighed. “Where do we draw the line with what we’ll tolerate from people?”

“By doing what you’ve been doing,” he replied with a squeeze of her shoulders. “There are no boundaries with love,” he smiled, “and there’s always hope in God. He’s not surprised by any of this, honey. In spite of our limited capacity to fathom it, His plan is still in force. The battle is His. Our only job is to stand firm and follow His lead.”

When she looked back at him, the resolve in his heart showed in his eyes. Actually, she recognized more than that. He’d come to the end of himself, and, thankfully, so had she.

“We’ve got hope, we’ve got calling, we’ve got a promise, and we have victory if we hold on.”

She looked away again shyly. “I know what God wants me to do, Martin. He’s making a way, and I think I see it.”

He smiled as though he recognized exactly what she was talking about. “You can do this, Julia. I knew what was going on the minute Hope made her presence known. God wants to do a work in you, honey. You can do this.”

She nudged closer and buried her face against his chest. God really used him for her. She fixed her gaze on those amber eyes. “I’ve never known any man as much like Jesus as you,” she told him. He drew her closer as the wind whipped past. “You’ve gained the trust of the people, darling. I’m proud of you. Brad’s drawn battle lines, but you’re right, I can see victory. G