Right now, I'm at a point in my life where everything is completely out of my hands and so much is overwhelming me. God likes to use these times in my life to teach me about faith. He also likes to remind me of these lessons and have me go through it all again, and again, especially right when I think I've got "this whole faith thing" down.
The other day I was visiting a church that I don't regularly attend. The pastor said something about faith that I never really thought about before, or maybe I have heard it, but it was long forgotten. He said that faith is only required when you cannot see. You don't need faith anymore once you've seen what you were previously having faith in.
So.True.
Hebrews 11:1 says "now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." If only that verse was easy to live out! It is so easy to get caught up in fear of the unknown, especially when things look absolutely bleak and hopeless despite knowing His promises.
Today, my pastor was talking about the resurrection of Jesus and about how, even though He clearly said what would happen, everyone still doubted and were distraught when Jesus died and said "it is finished." ("Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" -Luke 9:18-22). In fact, the gospel of Luke accounts for three times that Jesus specifically talks about His death and what would happen (Luke 9:43-45 and Luke 18:31-34). They even doubted when they found the tomb empty and didn't believe until they saw Him with their own eyes. For me, it's so good to know that even Jesus' disciples struggled with faith (even when they saw glimpses of the promises of Jesus being fulfilled).
The good news is, God is big enough to fill in the gaps when I don't feel strong enough. He is also big enough to conquer death. I'm so thankful He fulfilled His promise to pay the penalty so that I (we) could spend eternity in heaven with Him. I am also thankful that He is faithful to provide and will come through in everything, even when I cannot see or understand. With Him, we have hope. All we need to do is have faith.
Happy Easter! He is Risen indeed!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" -John 3:16
"But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay" -Matthew 28:5-6
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" -Hebrews 10:22-23
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" -Psalm 37:4
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