Faith…

Faith–the confident trust in our Lord and Savior that He who has begun a good work in you will continue to perform it until it is finished. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about what we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1) When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. for you know that when you faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4

One of the benefits of my growing older and growing in my faith is I have come to not be so surprised by these tests that come our way. I think in my naive youth I thought that if I had enough faith I could/would keep things away from myself and my family. It was a very childish and immature way to think. When these tests or troubles as James shares, came my way, I would be caught off guard and struggle with them simply happening rather than walk them out in faith. I really was unaware of this childish perspective until the Lord showed me. I spent much too much time asking the “whys” of situations rather than simply applying the Word of God to the situation.

The Bible refers to different types of faith–little faith, (Matthew 17:20); weak faith (Romans 14:1) great faith (Matthew 15:28) at times I think I have experienced them all. Troubles and tests are part of what happens in this world. Job declares that the rain falls on the just and the unjust. It does not mean that we should not pray for protection, health and favor for ourselves or our families. But we need not to be blindsided about events that happen to us as believers.

Our faith is supposed to grow and develop. It is like a muscle and as we deal with the experiences of life we get the opportunity to exercise that muscle and watch it grow stronger. I am not where I want to be with my faith, but by God’s grace I can see areas where I have grown and developed a greater confidence and assurance in Him. I am grateful for it has led me to the Rock that is Higher than I, the One who is strong, stable and able to meet the challenges I face with power and authority.

Remember we walk by faith and not by sight–a life of trust. We can do this.