Dawn--A Precious Gem

Dawn Cox

Dawn and her beloved David and their four children.

She was my extroverted and animated college roommate. The only one I ever really loved. She was most certainly the only one I ever respected and considered emulating.

God used Dawn to teach me an invaluable lesson. One I am still implementing today. Through her God taught me about faith.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 NAS

Dawn’s faith was and is a remarkable thing. During college I didn’t know anyone (other than my youth ministers and a few others) with a faith like hers—the kind of faith that permeated one’s life. Faith that was woven into their very identity. For Dawn Christianity was life rather than a lifestyle. Until that point in my own history I thought Christianity was a part of your life; I didn’t understand Jesus called us to make it our life.

But Dawn did.

I didn’t understand this until years later when God had matured me a little (I tend to be resistant at times holding on to childish things), when I had encountered a bit of suffering.

Dawn taught me that following Jesus was more than proclaiming to be a Christian, more than going to Bible college and more than going to church.

Dawn’s faith was tangible. I witnessed strong faith in my youth leaders, in the minsters in my home church and in some of my professors, but in Dawn I saw a remarkable faith in an ordinary, everyday young woman. That doesn’t sound like a compliment, but I certainly mean it as such.

In my neck of the woods radical faith was for ministers and missionaries. Anyone who included Jesus in their everyday talk and dealings was fanatical. Jesus had his place, but you didn’t allow religion to alter your common sense.

Dawn prayed with faith about every little thing. She prayed about things I never considered presenting the Lord. Dawn prayed with an assurance I didn’t understand—she prayed as if things were already done and she was just having to wait on them.

This blew my mind.

Dawn taught me that radical faith really is just normal fare in the kingdom.

One of my most favorite memories of Dawn was her ministry of sending care packages. She would hear about someone having a hard time or someone would just be on her heart and she would pack up a goodie box—filled to overflowing with the useful, the beneficial and the fun, and it would be mailed.

She was and is an incredible encourager.

I learned from Dawn. I wish I had learned from her sooner.

I wish I had told her sooner how much I learned from her example.

We haven’t seen each other in years. Not face to face.

Yet she still teaches me. We correspond through Facebook—brief tidbits. Inevitably we will have a message volleying between us and she will comment about something going on in her life and the Spirit will say to me, Latch on to this, Tamera. Pay attention. Do you see her faith?

As you will read, her faith was tested. She had to wait a while, a long while, for some things she asked for repeatedly. She struggled. She battled. But her faith was honed and polished like a precious gem—Peter says that this gem is of greater worth than gold.

I ask you to pass Dawn’s message forward to women, especially young women. Her message is filled with hope. For those who are asking God for great things, but have yet to see his answers Dawn is living proof that God gives good things, especially himself, to those who will wait.

Please pass her story along.  

When asked to describe her family Dawn says, “We are a family of six. We say I love you often and I’m sorry, please forgive me as needed. Some would call us late bloomers having our four children in our thirties, yet we know all was in God’s perfect timing.”

Dawn and her husband, David, have been married 21 years and have one daughter and three sons. David has been the Associate Pastor with his home church for twenty-four years. Dawn has been a stay-at-home mom who cares for children in her home to make ends meet.

1.      What is your most comforting and most challenging Scriptures?

Comforting Scripture: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank him. Psalm 28:7 (Dawn has a beautiful, beautiful voice)

Challenging Scripture: Sow with a view of righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until he comes to rain righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 (Needless to say I will probably be spending some time with this verse—break up your fallow ground? Ouch.)

2.      What books, other than Scripture, have had a profound influence in your faith walk?

Believing God by Beth Moore. Dawn said she read this years ago and is now rereading because of Beth’s recent free downloads)

Our Covenant God by Kay Arthur. (Also another one Dawn is rereading.)

3.      If you could tell or give your 21 year old self advice or encouragement, what would you tell her? (This is a long entry, but so worth every moment it takes to read it.)

I have to give a little background. I was a bridesmaid six times before I was a bride! I yearned to be a godly wife and mother, yet feared many times that it would not happen for me. I wanted a man fully committed to God, with a sense of humor and love for kids. At times I waited patiently, and at other times with many tears and cries to God (He is more than big enough to handle that!) 

Between my sophomore and junior years of college I interned with a small children’s home for the summer. This home was in southwestern Indiana. While there we visited the First Christian Church in Sullivan, Indiana (Tamera says, pay close attention). We went to present our work to this church who had supported the children’s home for years. After the service there was a pie night and a handsome, young man came up to me. My first thought was that he was really cute, but I will probably never see him again. Little did I know…

We were both in Bible college in different states. We had NO contact during the next two years. We both graduated and ended up working in the same church in another country 2500 miles away from where we met. Needless to say we were surprised we crossed paths again (Tamera wasn’t surprised. God certainly wasn’t). We served together that summer and became best friends. By the end of the summer I was well on my way to being in love—my beloved had not made that discovery yet. We both returned stateside to raise support so we could return to Canada and serve again.  

We ended up at the same church, six hours south of the first one! After 14 months of serving together we then spent a year apart. There was no doubt in my heart and mind that he was who I wanted. I went to Vancouver to help with a church plant and he went home to Indiana and was hired by his home church. During that time away from each other he missed me. Yes! Seven years after meeting him, I walked down the aisle of our very meeting place (First Christian Church in Sullivan, Indiana) to become his wife (I, Tamera, was a bridesmaid in this wedding!). 

Was it my timing? Not even close. The timing was God’s and therefore perfect. The name David means beloved, and my beloved was worth the wait. I’m still crazy about him. The Lord has blessed us beyond what I could have dreamed (and I had a few dreams). I love life and doing ministry with this incredible man—who is a gift.  

My message to my 21 year old self? Keep trusting the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own limited understanding!  

4.      What are your two strongest spiritual gifts?

Hospitality and giving.

5.      How is God using these gifts through you?

Our home is open to kids and adults alike. For a meal. A place to stay (three days or three months) or just for fellowship. The gift of giving for me is more of a time and energy investment, although I do try to share in a material way when possible.

6.      What would you like to say, what bit of encouragement would you give, to the readers here at seventypalms?

I have spent way too much time and energy feeling like I wasn’t good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, thin enough, spiritual enough, talented enough etc. etc. I would say to you, You are enough. God loves you deeply and will use your unique life experiences, gifts and talents for His glory when you surrender them to Him.