I woke up this morning with the Lord in my ear and all over my heart. Speaking Truth to me, after a day and night of allowing the enemy to creep in with his plan to take me off course.
I'm so thankful that the Lord keeps me on a short leash and never allows me to stray too far before He reminds me where my home is.
I was thinking this morning about faith. What are your true thoughts on faith when it has really been tested? I have come to the realization that for almost 35 years of my life, it has been pretty easy to have faith. God has blessed me with so many things and real adversity had never really hit me. Sure I had a few things here and there but His mercy was also so evident, like in blessing me with Kayley out of my decision to not wait until I was married. It was hard to really stay in a bad place when I had the excitement and blessing of a baby coming.
So to sum it up, I had a pretty easy life.
But then adversity came. The real kind. The kind that brings you to your knees and steals your breath from you. What are your thoughts on faith then?
I've been so blessed that the Lord has taken me on a journey for a number of years now that certainly equipped me for this place. 5-10 years ago, I wouldn't be able to stand. But He has been pouring into me and I have been getting to know Him in a deeper and intimate way. So I can say, through all of the pain and agony and hurt, there has been joy. He has NEVER left my side. I have felt him 100% of the time. Even when I didn't think I could take another breath...He was there.
But this morning He really challenged me. I can say all of these things confidently because it's the truth. In Deuteronomy when Moses is addressing Israel and he tells them that "the Lord will never leave you or forsake you," I can get with that. Yes! He doesn't leave you. He's there with you. But what about the next line when Moses says "do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged." That part...not so much.
Faith isn't about just knowing He's there. Faith isn't about just sitting back and allowing Him to wipe your tears. Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." When was the last time I hoped? When was the last time I believed God for my future? Instead of just relying on Him to get me through today!? Just basically surviving.
It's so easy to allow our emotions to take over the rule and reign. But the bad thing about emotions is that they can be deceiving. What is the Truth? What about what God says and promises about our situation? Do we have faith that He will do what His Word promises He will do?
I am so thankful to serve a God that is interested in all of me. He knows my intimate thoughts and desires and knows me better than I could ever think to know myself.
That is where God is challenging me right now. I hope this challenges someone else and grows their faith in the One that can make ALL THINGS possible.
