My Isaac Offering

Today in our life group, we discussed Abraham’s faith when God asked him to offer up Isaac. The question was:

“Can you think of a time when God asked you to make an Isaac offering — something that didn’t make sense at the time?”

In late 2006, a few months before Jessica was diagnosed with terminal leukemia, I had a vivid encounter with God. I felt Him clearly call me to my knees and ask a direct question: “Are you willing to give up your most treasured possession?”

At that time and still today, my greatest treasure is my family. After some hesitation, I quietly submitted, “Yes, Lord.” Immediately, the impression of Jessica came strongly to my mind. I tried to push the thought away. I never spoke about it to anyone at the time, afraid that saying it out loud would somehow give it power.

Little did I know that just a few months later, our precious daughter would begin her long, brutal battle with cancer.

When Jessica was miraculously healed after years of treatment, I thought the story was over. I believed it had all been a test of faith that ended in victory and healing. I relaxed. My focus quietly shifted back to providing for my family and building a “normal” life.

Then, almost twelve years later, at the age of thirty, Jessica went home to be with Jesus. That loss shook me to the core and renewed a deep determination in me, not just to live, but to fulfill the calling God has placed on my life.

Looking back, I now understand the question God asked me in 2006 wasn’t really about me offering up Jessica or my family. It was about relinquishing control. I didn’t sacrifice her. God simply asked me to release my tight grip on what I treasured most and trust Him to care for what matters to me far better than I ever could.

Today I can say with confidence: God has taken care of what is most precious to me. Jessica is safe, whole, and full of joy in the presence of Jesus. My family is in His hands. I still miss her deeply. That ache will always be part of me. But God has transformed the sadness into something new.

What once felt like devastating loss has become freedom. The releasing of the very thing I held onto so tightly has become the fuel for my calling, my motivation to serve, and a confidence I had never known before.

When God asks us to loosen our grip on an “Isaac,” He is not trying to take something from us. He is inviting us to trust that He will take care of what we love most, and in the process, set us free to become who He created us to be.