Faith and Trust.................

I have been thinking about faith and trust lately..............and realizing that many times my faith is weak.  I am studying a very good book called Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. I have studied it before, but what a blessing to study it again with a new friend. We all go through hard times and sometimes the way looks very dark.

 
The thing is.....WHAT or WHO do we have faith in? If I have faith in myself or in my own abilities, then I will fail. If I have faith in my possessions, I will fail. If I have faith in another person, even if they are a "good person", at some point they will fail me. The only One worthy of my faith is ............ God.  He who knows the end from the beginning.....He who created me..........who has a perfect plan for my life.....He is the One I need to trust.

I have faced some hard times when fear of the future overwhelmed me and then God's peace comforted and carried me. There have been times when I have asked God to PLEASE change the circumstances and don't allow me to suffer so. He gently assures me that He is still in control and that I can trust Him - even if the way is hard.

It is easy to trust Him when things go well......or when I can see some great purpose, but what about the times when life is really hard and it hurts.........dreadfully? Will I trust Him then? Hard questions, but Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever...............He can be trusted in the good times......and in the bad times.

My kids and I are memorizing Isaiah 26:3,4 and these verses really apply to this.............

I find that when my thoughts go to my circumstances, to my pain, to my fears, then I can become unsettled and worry takes over. I am not trusting the One I should trust. One of the best ways I have found to change my focus, is to recite scripture. God helps my focus to change from my earthly circumstances and allows me to focus on Him and He gives peace.....in the midst of problems.  It doesn't take away the problems or the pain, but the assurance that He is still in control brings comfort....and trust.

There is a song that I have appreciated for a long time, and one phrase, especially sticks out to me and challenges me. It says, When you can't see His hand, trust His heart.  That has helped me many times.

Growing in Christ is an on-going process and I want to honor God in my life. We can do that one day at a time.....or even one hour at a time....or a minute at a time. If you are struggling with a painful situation, I hope you will turn to the One who loves you and gave His life for you.....and rose again, defeating death and sin.

May our faith continue to grow.