Forging Our Faith
This winter hit hard.
Not in the seasonal sense with snowstorms and ice, but physically and mentally. A bout of sickness that seemed to kickstart my anxiety again swept me from stable ground to thrashing about deep waters, wave crashing after wave.
And just before this, I was ready to go deeper in my faith, was asking God to see more of Him and grow me to experience more of who He is, in real and honest ways.
Had my faith taken a hit? Had I stumbled backwards in the panic of my uninvited fears?
We can question our faith when faced with adversity and suffering. We wonder if we have faith strong enough to withstand the struggle. If we fear, is it a sign of frail faith? What does God think about our faith when, to us, we feel like we falter?
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. - Hebrews 11:1-2
Faith is working in me through the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Faith is forged in the fires of trial. It’s here where the rubber meets the road and we face our challenges, insecurities, and doubts head on, still coming to God in honesty. And He is happy to hear our hearts, whatever state they are in.
Faith moves us closer to the heart of God. Faith grows us, in places and ways we never would have otherwise had we not gone through the valley.
We find ourselves walking in the unseen, the unknown newness of faith where we are led into territory we haven’t talked about and may be left grasping for something solid to hold to. But the challenges we go through give God the chance to show us who He is, how He wants to show Himself to us right here in the middle of the hard.
For we live by faith, not by sight. - 2 Corinthians 5:7
Let’s live our faith in a way that still acknowledges the hard and scary, but also gives light to see God at work around and in us.
Questions for Reflection:
1. How has God been growing my faith?
2. Where can you look for God’s presence in your challenges?
