I Believe In You by Kristine

I believe in you.

Four powerful words that inspire us to do things we never thought we could do. They give us boldness, courage – knowing someone has our back. Someone thinks we can do it. Someone has faith in us.

Saying “I believe in you” is inspiring, but often Jesus is inviting us to be a part of someone’s story. Someone’s mission. Someone’s dream. When our actions match those powerful words “I believe in you”…that’s when God uses our encouragement to extinguish the fears holding them back.

I like to call it believing with them.

Do you have a friend starting a new career? Building a new ministry? Taking a giant step of faith?

Do you have friends fighting for their marriage? Struggling with their kids?

Do you have a teenager with big dreams? An adult child starting over?

I invite you to believe the impossible with them. Here’s what happens when you do:

You get to see the miracle unfold.

Last year, Lyette shared her crazy dream with me: she wanted to write a parenting book. Well, that meant she wanted to land an agent…the top Christian literary agent in the country, of course. And the most difficult to contact.

Daly Kay, Lyette, and I at the writing conference with Pastor Mark Batterson – pastor of National Community Church in DC

That is until the agency decided to host a writing conference. We printed off packets of blog posts, sample writing, and the most adorable pictures of the Reback kids. We flew all the way to Texas in the FREEZING February weather. We practiced our “pitch” speech in the hotel room. And then we marched our way down to that conference…confident and terrified.

I’ll never forget the look on Lyette’s face right before she talked to the agent. It was the first time I saw this strong, fearless woman look vulnerable. I bent down (there’s a bit of height difference between us) and whispered, “You are called and anointed to do this.”

The first thing the agent told us was that parenting books are very difficult to sell…basically, good luck, but no.

That is until she asked Lyette what made her want to write a parenting book. I wish you could have seen her jaw drop when Lyette handed her their Christmas card. “But you’re gorgeous! And you don’t look tired! We need to talk. You MUST write a parenting book!!”

Esther, Lyette’s agent, holding my new favorite book!

A few weeks later, the entire agency team flew down to Florida to meet the family and now, Lyette is one of their clients! A dream come true. And Lyette’s book is written and published…an even bigger dream come true.

And I got to be there for all of it. I got to see it unfold. I got to be in that Texas hotel room squealing with Lyette and Daly. I got to see Lyette’s face when her dream came true. There’s nothing quite like being there when someone gets their miracle.

But I would be lying if I told you it’s always fun and exciting. Sometimes, to believe with someone, costs you something.

It may cost you your time. It may cost you financially. Or it may change your entire life. A year ago today, I was working in my dream job, living in the same city as my family, and surrounded by the greatest friends I had ever known. My life was full of purpose and filled to the brim with opportunity. But I knew what I believed. And I couldn’t shake it. I walked into my boss’s office and had to tell a man I deeply respect and admire that I was resigning from the very position I had spent years begging God for. Was I crazy?! What was I doing?!

I was choosing to believe with Lyette.

This past year, I have walked with The Rebacks through some of the most rewarding and most difficult seasons of their lives. I have seen God do the impossible not only in our ministry but in their personal lives. And I believe more today than I did a year ago. God is going to use The Reback Family to help millions of families. And I’ll be here, believing with them.

Whose miracle is God inviting you to be a part of? Who needs you to stand beside them and encourage them to take a step of faith?

Pray for them. Fast for them. Serve at their events. Share their posts on social media. Buy their merchandise. Tell your friends about their organization/ministry. Connect them with your connections. Attend their speaking engagements. Go to their games. Randomly text them encouragement.

Accept the invitation to join in. You won’t regret it. And remember, we believe with you. Always.