Encouragement

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It’s not a matter of questioning my faith; it’s of a matter of questioning where I practice my faith…what man calls religion. Religion is defined as a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith. Ardor defines the passion we feel when we believe in something so much that it governs our life, our actions, our thoughts, our words….everything. Faith defines complete trust, trust in something we cannot see, trust in something that we cannot touch.

Faith is the aspect of religion that defines me. I believe in my Lord even though I cannot see him, even though I cannot physically touch him, I know he is there. My passion to find out all about him is what drives me. But where do I begin to look?

Mankind has begun to define the Lord…what he is about, what drives his emotions of happiness, sadness, and anger, why he does the things he does, why he answers prayers when he does….but that’s man's definition…so does this mean its correct? Every person in this world has a belief in something whether it is in themselves, whether it is in an icon, or whether it is in teachings of a religion that helps them accept themselves. Acceptance of ourselves and acceptance of us by other people I believe is what drives man to believe in things they cannot see, things they cannot touch. I believe that it’s this wanting and need to feel accepted that drives man to look for a religion that helps them feel better about themselves, its human nature.

But mankind cannot define my faith, not anymore. For as long as I can remember I have always had a deep belief in the being I have come to know as my Lord Jesus Christ. I have always had a deep relationship with my Lord, whether it is in times of sorrow, in times of doubt, or in time of happiness he was always there beside me listening to my every tear and my every cry. Sometimes for days, months, or even years at a time, I have walked away from him and left him behind but I have never walked away from my love for him or my devotion to him for one simple fact…. through all this he has remained strong for me, walking beside me, protecting me, and leading me without me even recognizing he was. Because of his unconditional love for me, his forgiving nature towards me, my love for him has deepened. My love for him remains unconditional. I am not to put standards on my Lord, but rather uphold the standards he has given me through the teachings of his word. To treat people with kindness, to love people for who they are, not what I want them to be, to not judge people for their differences, to be patient with those that test my love and my deep faith in the Lord, and to be joyful in what he has given me.

The trials and tribulations I go through daily are only the tests of my strength and belief in my love for Jesus, for my Lord. I will be forever grateful for these tests and tribulations as hard as they may be because they have only made me stronger. They may break my heart into a million pieces, they may tear me down physically, but they will never break my spirit or my love for my Lord. It has only strengthened my resolve to follow and love my Lord that has led me out of the depths of despair.

Man’s definitions of what I need to be, who and what I need to believe in, and how I am to act out my faith in the Lord are just definitions, rules and regulations they have come up with through their own beliefs, through their own faith. They mean nothing to me. The standards have been set by my Lord and his teachings, standards I will spend the rest of my life upholding through the trials, through the tribulations, in time of sadness and sorrow, and even in times of happiness. My love for him and faith in him has never diminished but rather remains a burning fire deep within my heart waiting to be awakened….

Man’s definition of religion will never define my faith….because the Lord already has….

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