Faith

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Faith is the substance of all things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1) Do you believe?

For the majority of my life from what I can recall, I have used the word faith. I told people over and over again, I believe that all things are possible. After all, that is what God’s word says, but you know its one thing to say it and another thing to actually believe it. Do you follow me? Many say they have faith, yet when the test, the trials and the tribulations come, how do they handle them? How do you handle them? It’s easy to have faith when everything is going well, kind of like having trust. Let’s face it; life is full of ups and downs. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (Romans 5:3)

God didn’t say there wouldn’t be trials, tests or tribulations. His word says there will be tribulation, but we are to glory in them. Many would ask how in the world “do you have glory in the midst of a tribulation?” The word says that tribulations worketh patience. It goes on to say that patience worketh experience, and experience, hope. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:4-5)

God loved us so much that He gave His son for us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

We are called to love God; Many people say they love God. However, if we truly love God, it will be evident in our walk with God. To have faith is to believe that God is who He says He is.

For example, I am truly living by faith right now. Either I believe that God is who He says He is or I don’t. It’s up to me. God will not make me believe. Now I can choose to say I believe and that I have faith which is what I have been saying for the majority of my life. However, when it comes down to the nuts and bolts do I really believe that God is who says He is?

I am a single mom of three wonderful sons that are 14, 17, and 19 years of age. They are all over 6’4 feet tall with the oldest son standing at 6’7. I say this to make a point. They eat a lot. My 19 year old doesn’t live with me anymore but praise God is doing well. I am blessed because great is the peace of my children. Praise God.

Not only am I a single mom, but for the first time in twenty-five years, I am unemployed due to a lay off. That’s right I don’t have a corporate job anymore. I have had husbands leave me in the past, but I have always had employment. God is good.

I believe that God will take care of me and my sons. He always has. The job was not my source. God is my source. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. My natural eye (circumstances) say panic, what are you going to do? You have bills. One of your sons is in his senior year of high school, plays football, on the volleyball team, and gets good grades, a great kid that deserves good things. What are you going to do? The mortgage Company didn’t want to work with me before I lost my job because I was current on my mortgage. What are you going to do now that you don’t have employment? The bills didn’t stop, as a matter of fact some of them increased, what will you do? What about health insurance, dental insurance? What will you do?

I share this with anyone that is reading this blog today to say to you these are the circumstances that face me and my family today? A month ago I was employed with a decent income, A-1 credit, health benefits and paying the bills on time. It’s amazing how things can change in an instance. I consider myself to be a woman of faith, a woman of God. Many in the Christian world might say, well what did she do? Remember, God didn’t say that tribulations wouldn’t come. He said we are to glory in tribulations. God will get the glory in every circumstance of our lives, if we lean not to our understanding and let Him direct our path. (Proverbs 3:6). Let His will be done, not mine.

Am I a woman of faith or not? I trusted God when the bills were being paid, the mortgage was on time, and the health benefits were good. Boy, did I have faith.
Do I still have faith in the midst of my current circumstances? Do I truly believe that God is who He says He is? Do I believe His word, which says it is a sin to worry, for he takes care of the lilies of the field? What more will he not do for me?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6: 28-34).

I do believe that God is who He says He is. I believe that His word is true. I have faith in the midst of my circumstances. I look to the unseen and not at the things I see. If I choose to look at my circumstances right now, I would probably say forget it. I choose to look at God. I believe that God will not fail me nor will He fail anyone that believes in Him. It’s the choice that I choose to make.

Don’t get me wrong, I do have my moments. After all, I am human. However, when I feel one of those moments coming on, I get in the face of God. I fall on my knees and began to thank Him for who He is. He is the author and finisher of my faith. He is the author and finisher of our faith, if we choose to let Him in. I know I can’t do this without Him. I need God. That’s my choice. I choose to believe that He is who He says He is. I choose to stand on His word in the midst of what my circumstances say. I choose to look at the unseen and not at what I see. I choose God. My hope is in God. My trust is in God. My faith is in God. My obedience is to God.

I know that God will not fail me. His word tells me this. God will never leave nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5).

Where is your faith today? Do you believe that God is who He says He is?
If so, what are you doing to show it?

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