Growing up in a Christian home has many advantages. We were taught the things of God from our infancy. It also has some disadvantages. We would often hear truth without explanation. As a result, we sometimes grew up with a vague understanding or a misinterpretation of Scripture.
One statement always spoken to us by our Pastor or one of the Sunday School teachers was, “You must have faith.” We were taught that faith moved God. As a child, I was often told that I was to trust and believe God in every situation--that He would always see me through. The Pastor regularly quoted Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Finding faith was now my life’s journey. I knew that it was the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of what I could not see, but it was hard to understand these terms: substance, hope, evidence, things not seen. I immediately took upon myself the responsibility of searching out this mystery and to become a person who moved God by having what He required.
What I’ve learned through my journey is that faith comes by hearing and hearing again the Word of God (Romans 10: 17). It also grows through our obedience in difficult situations. As a youth, I fasted and prayed much to have this faith. Some would say, “You are not blessed because you don’t have enough faith.” Even as a pre-teen, I had problems with this statement. There are many opinions as to what faith is and what it means. These views often cause believers much trouble, self-condemnation, and mental anguish. I encourage those who struggle with these feelings of guilt to relax, love the Lord, and pay no attention to such words.
Recently, I was meditating on the Lord and His “bigness.” I was overwhelmed by the thought that even now, after all these years, God is still a mystery to me. Immediately, I was comforted by another thought, which I call a God-Thought: I do not have to understand or have full knowledge of the infinite God because I believe that He exists! Somehow even in the midst of an attack against my faith, the Lord was able to reveal Himself to me in an undeniable way. I’ve come to know that faith is simply loving the Lord, trusting Him when I don’t understand, and obeying Him when my way seems better than His; it is having confidence in the One who loves Me.
1 comments:
When I first heard about the blog. I was excited! One reason I was excited is because my spiritual dad, my greatest leader on earth has more truth for me. Yet, I found out that many people read the blogs but don't have any comments. So I wonder, well God am I suppose to comment? If I wasn't suppose to comment then it wouldn't be a way for me to comment. So I must comment, my point is if I take my eye off of God and consider other stuff. Or, be concerned as to why others do or don't do. It would hinder my faith. I find myself in situations and I truly believe it is because I am suppose to lose focus and lose confidence on what really matters. Now, it has come to my attention to welcome it all because I truly believe faith is simply loving the Lord and obeying Him. I am so different from other people and sometimes it bothers me. I want to be quiet and reserved, and I want to not be so emotional and/or excited about the things of God. God continues and continues to tell me I am the way he wants me to be. He wants me to be bold and daring and all of this takes faith. I am learning that the way I am is not for me it is for others to bring glory to God. I thank God for messages like this from a man who is so real, who is so down to earth and is able to share his life with us. Pastor Don in my opinion by what comes out of his mouth, his life is a living epistle. Faith is hearing the Word of God, and God uses men and women, thank God He uses my Pastor to bring God's Word alive to the point where I understand it and I am able to apply it to my daily walk. The Holy Spirit does an awesome job, but God certainly uses Pastor to give me understanding.
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