Faith

FAITH.
I wonder what that word conjures up in your mind and heart?

We say we have faith things will work out. We say we have faith that God will work it out for us. He will fight the battle.
We encourage people to keep the faith. To not give up.

Faith is easier when we have a bit of hope or a glimpse of light.

But there are those moments, those times when it's completely dark and God, our trustworthy leader is quiet.

What does faith look like then? What if my faith is so weak I plop down in a corner or sit along the way??  What if I don't or can't trust in those weak moments??

Let's define faith.
Webster's definition... Faith is unquestioning  belief that does not require proof or evidence. Complete trust, confidence, or reliance. Allegiance to some person or thing, loyalty.

It doesn't say I have to feel or even be the one who understands. Actually it's my trust in someone else.

And that someone is...
Jesus. God. He's dependable, doesn't change or lie.  He is big enough, strong enough, and has a perspective I don't have.

And so, I must lay down me and take that next step, knowing and believing that God is trustworthy.

Back to what if you're mad at God or are so tired in the storm that choosing to believe seems undoable?

Ok. Give yourself some space. Some room...
You may need to embrace that moment, cry, and simply tell God.

But know that you won't stay there forever. Sooner or later God will come through, His presence will be strongly felt, and you will see some light.

So, maybe true, honest FAITH looks a bit more like this....

Faith chooses to rest in the midst of the raging storm. (and maybe I even step out on those waters)
It chooses to dance in the pouring rain.
And it chooses to follow when the way is really dark.

Faith is following when the facts don't add up like I thought they would.
Faith is taking the next step when it feels like I'll step over a cliff.


Faith doesn't mean I'll always have the strength or the want-to, it says I'll believe and trust anyway.

What if I actually take that step and it is over a cliff???

Maybe I'll discover I have wings or that God will catch me and I can rest under His everlasting wings as we go downward.

But there may be those moments when I actually hit the ground and everything shatters and becomes dust.

But as Lysa Terkurest shares with us and reminds us, God used dust at Creation to make man and declared it good.  And sometimes the best pottery is made with broken pottery dust mixed in with the clay. (taken from her book, It's Not Supposed to be This Way)


In those moments, can I believe and trust God to care for me when I lie broken and shattered???


Yes, because He uses dust to create and declare it good.

Even sun's rays are visible because of dust particles.  Beauty out of ashes.