Faith is Believing

We live in a world where we can obtain pretty much whatever we want instantaneously. Drive-thru restaurants are open all night. The Internet provides us with up to the minute news, sports, entertainment gossip, etc.., you get the point. In an age of instant gratification, it is difficult to have faith and wait.

Faith is believing in what you can't see. It's believing that, even when circumstances tell us otherwise, what we desire or need; for a difficult period in our lives to end, or for a joyous occasion to arrive; it will come to pass.

I am a Christian and I believe in God. I believe in prayer. I also believe that God answers prayer. I do, however, believe that if we want God to honor our prayers, then we have to honor his Word. You can't expect God to bless you if you are not following His will.

I am currently navigating a very stressful period in my life. I have felt like giving up. I have cried almost on a daily basis. I have thought about getting in my car and just driving as far away as possible. I have considered every scenario for ending/solving my current situation by my own hands, none of which are wise. I have come extremely close to making rash decisions on the spur of the moment, but something always stops me.

I was raised in a very supportive, Christian home. My grandfather was a preacher and my grandmother, my mother and her sisters have always been very involved in ministry. I have always had a strong circle of encouragement and prayer warriors at my back. My husband is also a very supportive, Christian man and he is the rock that I lean on when I feel like I am losing ground. I have a beautiful son who almost always says the right thing when I'm feeling down. It's funny how he knows when I need a little lift. Just last night he was telling me how beautiful I am, I think he was buttering me up for something, but oh well, I take what I can get.

My family and my faith are what keep me from going over the edge when I'm feeling desperate. Every decision I make is weighed in consideration of my family and my spiritual values. Even on my bad days, when I want to say the heck with it all, I think of my family, especially my grandmother, and wonder what would they think of me.

Don't get me wrong, I am by no means perfect. I have flaws, huge ones. It's a struggle to hang on when you feel like the stress is going to drive you to insanity. I'm serious. Just this past week I considered the option of having myself committed.

Here's the thing though, just when things get their darkest and I think I'm not going to be able to even take one more minute, something happens. Suddenly I will have a break in the storm and my mind becomes clear and I remember my favorite scripture, Joshua 1:9, which says, "This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Faith is believing against all odds, that God is moving in your life. Faith is believing that God has a plan and no matter how the situation looks on the outside, He is going to work it out for your best. Faith is simply believing.