How Strong Is Your Faith?
“Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.” ~ Voltaire
During moments of darkness, sometimes the hardest thing in the world to do is keep the faith. When situations become grim and there doesn’t appear to be any relief in sight, it’s easy to lose hope, even if only temporarily. The longer we struggle with an issue the more our faith begins to erode. We want results. So, it’s only human to become consumed with seeing the evidence of improvement. The Bible states that faith is the substance of things hoped for…the evidence of things not seen. The longer that evidence goes missing, the more we give up. If we’re not careful, moments of weakness will become a permanent part of our psyche.
“Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things – with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.” ~ Corazon Aquino
How strong is your faith? How do you respond when it’s being tested? Do you constantly walk around feeling miserable, prepared to throw yourself a pity party at a moment’s notice? The race doesn’t go to the swift, but to the one who endures until the end. And while you endure, it is possible to be happy and at peace. This joy can be obtained by choosing to maintain an attitude of gratitude. Being grateful for the fact that God is in control of your situation, and that it won’t always rain on your side of the road. Those dark clouds will eventually give way to the light of the sun as the winds of change make their presence felt.
“Faith gives you an inner strength and a sense of balance and perspective in life.” ~ Gregory Peck
When life knocks the wind out of you, your primary focus becomes catching your breath as quickly as possible. What we don’t see during this process is the strengthening of our intestinal fortitude with each blow we experience. We become stronger with every trial. The stronger we become the less of an effect the gut punches of life have on us. We become less blinded by our emotions, allowing us to see things from a clearer perspective. A perspective not shrouded in sadness, anger, and self-pity.
“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” ~ Saint Augustine
James 2:26 in the Bible states, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Yes, God is ultimately in control. But this doesn’t mean you should sit back and passively wait for things to turn in your favor. Some blessings require work on your part. There are factors within your control that can be initiated to assist with the process. You must work toward your goals with an expected end in preparation for your blessings. If you implement this approach, God’s appointed time for what you desire won’t catch you by surprise.
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