Faith.

If you’ve read any of my blogs before, you know that sometimes I just have this urge to write.

Such was the case this week, when I started this blog.   I didn’t really know where to begin, because I felt like there was just so much to say and not any clear way to say it.  So I started with a verse.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.”

I am definitely in a season of change.

As of late, I have been witnessing so many new things—unexpected things, surprising things, annoying things, happy things, things that made me mad, things that made me cry, things I’m thankful for, things I am not.  Friends have reminded me what it looks like to show up for someone when they need you most, sometimes physically, sometimes digitally.  I have seen true loyalty be put to the test.

I have also seen real anxiety and fear of the future.  I have seen how easy it is to live in doubt.  But also, I have seen hope, and the promise of God that He will not forget those who love Him.

I am repeatedly reminded of what it means to live by faith.  

The other day I read this line Paul David Tripp wrote in “New Morning Mercies” (a wonderful daily devotional if you haven’t heard of it), and I think it is going to become a lifeline for me in this next season of life:  “Could it be that all of those things that come your way that confuse you and that you never would’ve chosen for yourself are God’s tools to build your faith?”

That is probably one of the greatest things I have ever read.  I could not have worded it better myself.

I reflect back on everything over the past year that has led me to where I’m at now in light of that quote and then I think about what God was doing through it all.  Could it be, that everything I was experiencing—everything that made me mad, everything that made me cry, those things I am thankful for and things I am not, everything that confused me, the path I ended up starting down that I definitely would not have chosen for myself—that was all God, and those are all His “tools” to build my faith?

Wow.  Talk about a perspective shift.  I think I’ve been looking at the bad parts of my recent days as weapons of destruction, when in actuality God was using them all as tools of construction, in order to build up my faith.  The path that recent events are leading me on, I definitely would not have chosen for myself, but God’s hand is evident in that as well.

So many verses come to mind on this subject, but there are a few that really stand out:

“A man’s steps are from the Lord, how then can man understand his way?” —Proverbs 20:24

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” —Proverbs 16:9

“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.’” —1 Corinthians 2:9

Sometimes I think we forget what it really means to live by faith until we have to face the unexpected.  It’s easy to say we are “walking by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) until trials appear.  When life is not so simple anymore, faith becomes even more important and so does the way we live in that faith.  To me, it is evident the faith someone has by how they respond to trials.

So, how will I respond?  I believe a long-term trial creates a daily battle of perseverance.  It is a daily decision to choose faith.  Living by faith is knowing that we will not know everything, and that is perfectly okay.  Living by faith is continuing on even though we do not understand.  Living by faith is praying for and expecting God to do things we cannot even begin to fathom.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

My prayer Today is that the events of Yesterday would already be working together for some good greater than our fickle human minds could ever imagine; That our hearts would be expanded to love those around us that we come into contact with during each and every trial; That our trials would be a test of endurance and that God would give us the will to run each race; That we would all learn to walk by faith because we know God has such a better plan than anything we could ever have dreamt up.

…

A SONG FOR TODAY //

If you normally skip this section, don’t today.  As you listen to this song, know that it is so full of truth.  Let its reminders surround you and strengthen you.

“For A Moment,” Elevation Worship

Peace be still you are with me

In this hope I abide

Jesus be my sustainer

Strengthen me in this trial

And I know, it’s only for a moment

And everything is working for your glory

But I need, your perfect love to hold me

Safe within your promise

’Til the storm has passed

When this burden is lifted

I’ll give thanks to your name

But until it is finished

I’ll give praise just the same

For we have this hope

As an anchor for our soul

You are with us

We will never be alone

…

xoxox, meg