This is combination of thoughts I've had over the last week or so and wanted to get them written down and share them because they are flowing from the heart. Thanks Stephanie for encouraging me through your own writings of the heart!
What is faith? Being sure of what you hope, or maybe being certain of what you cannot see? Why is it so hard for us to get our arms around faith. Maybe it's because we pursue something strongly with determination and then quickly let go of it when things don't turn out like we hoped or circustances change. For me faith is exactly what I stated at the start. In fact, I quoted Hebrews 11:1. For me, this short and breif statement of faith is what has driven many of the things I call successes in my life over the last 3-4 years. I say that because it has empowerd me to be a better leader, it has helped me to purse a woman and it has given me great confidence in the face of the tough world in which you and I live in. God's word also states in Hebrews 11:6 that, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." For me, faith is not apart from God, it comes through a relationship with Him. This relationship is what gives me feedback to the faith I am developing as I grow.
Some of you might have read in that verse that God will reward us for our faith. Now some would like to say that this reward will come first and foremost in this life. But, I don't agree that God would intend that since he wants us all to be with him and share in these blessing with us. These rewards are meant for heaven and we must remain grounded in that so as to remain humble in this place he has us. But it's hard for me to understand that concept when I feel like God has rewarded my faith in Him through the pursuit of a woman by delivering a wonderful marriage to Stephanie. I don't know how to explain that I feel very blessed by Him in this life with a wife, when I'm not sure what that will look like in heaven. Do I think he has a handle on this, yes. Do I believe that commitment I made to Stephanie will remain in heaven, in some form or another, yes I do. I guess that's what faith is to me. I know that if I believe in the things God has designed, like marriage and heaven, then He'll take care of all the details and let me know what to do as I make my way. So for me, faith is a very intergral part in how I live life. Don't go get faith for rewards in this life, like a wife or a job, or whatever else you think you need, because I don't believe God will honor that sort of thinking. But, go get faith to find the answers you are seeking now in your current situation. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
So how do you get faith. I wish I could tell you exactly how, but since He has created us all differently I can't say for sure. I do know that Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us an answer. It says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Growth in faith for me was and continues to be a continuous trusting in God in the presence of a wonderful church called Watermark and an amazing community of friends. During this time I was able to let go of looking to test my faith against the responses I would look for in the world and instead turn to this support structure and God for feedback. There is no doubt that God does use others to share His message with us. Don't try to live this life on your own. It's too hard and too stressful and you will fail. Invite God and others into what's going on and in time you will start to gain faith in yourself and the things "you hope for" and "cannot see".
No comments:
Post a Comment