Faith

Today I sit full of many emotions, trying to sort them out.  Overwhelmed by decisions about restyle.  Sad that Jessi has the flu and is miserable, but glad that she has camped out here and we can love on her and Justin.  Excited for Rene' and Makana as they begin to plan their wedding and life together, but also sad that the day will come that when I wake up she will not be here asking her dad to make coffee.  I am missing Ben and Sara.  And then there's Nicole, although Dean keeps saying she's only 12, dilusion aside, she will be graduating this year.  Although I'm excited to see all that is going to flourish in her life, I am sad that one day...those exciting, wonderful things will take her away.  Now I'm really sad. Who has chocolate?!?!  And a tissue?  And a hug?

I am also grateful.  Grateful for all the above and many more things.  Grateful that I am loved and able to love, not only the people in my life but my God!  I am grateful for being able to write and share a "Redefined" study with a lovely group of women.  Grateful for the new friendships I'm making.  I'm glad I listened to God when He spoke to me about being open a few years ago.

This past Saturday we had a women's event at church.  I loved the ladies at our table, we had a good time sharing and laughing.  I was asked to speak about faith and I am grateful for being a part of that awesome time.

I wanted to share with you some things I shared about Faith.  I will try to condense it, but you may want to grab a cup-o'-joe or tea or whatever and sit back and hopefully be encouraged.

Faith and trust has always gone hand-in-hand for me, and trust is not easy for me.  When I was praying and asking God how to describe something that can be difficult to grasp and a little ambiguous.  I thought of the chair.  Everyday since we were little we were put in chairs.  Chairs of all sizes and shapes.  We eat, sleep, ride, read, etc. every day in chairs.  We sit in chairs without even thinking about it.  We know they will hold us and do their job. 

What if since we were little, chairs were unpredictable?  What if when we went to sit, we never knew if they would break or hold us?  By the time we were adults we would approach a chair very differently.  We would be cautious and skeptical.  We would test the chair.  We would hold our breath until we knew we wouldn't fall.  

We can trust the chair because experience tells us that we can.  In the same way we can have faith in the One who has set the seasons and times of our lives.  The only way to truly trust and have faith in God is to know we can count on Him and the only way to know that is to know Him and His character.  Each difficult time in our lives is an opportunity to know Him better and know He is trustworthy.

Early in my walk I came across Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."

I have held onto that scripture throughout my life.  For a girl whose world regularly bottomed out, that promise is a lifeline to hope.  

In each season I have walked through, I have come to know God differently and deeper.  He is not a man that will let you down.

God's actions match His character!!

I have also come to know that not understanding does not need to be the same as not trusting!

We can and need to trust God even when we don't understand.  These are great moments, when it's just you and God knee-deep in mess, to get to know Him more personally.  More of who He is.  

Even through all the things that God has brought us through, I still struggle with  trusting Him. 

Zig Ziglar says: "Fear and Faith have the same definition. They both mean believing that what you cannot see will happen."

You believe either fear or faith.  Each time we walk through a time of faith and trusting God, we have that confidence for the next thing.

When you walk in faith, trusting God to be who He says He is and do what He says He'll do..you are stronger than you think. You are stronger than your past.  You are stronger than your fear.

When you are in mourning, He is your joy.
When you are lonely, He is your friend.
When you are celebrating, He is dancing with you.
When you are fearful, He is your confidence and hope.
When you are surrounded by darkness, He is your light.

Our faith is not dependent on a good season vs. a bad season, health vs. sickness, etc.  

Our faith is dependent on the Living, Loving God:
Who loved you since before you were born.
Who loved you enough to send His Son to die.
Who loved you enough to send the Holy Spirit to teach and guide you.
Who loved you through every weakness and broken area in your life.

Step out in faith today...God is there!!!

xo ~ Jodi