Sunday, September 12, 2010

Thoughts on Faith...

Faith.... it's one of the things I think comes to my mind the most. Do I have enough? Is it strong enough? Will it get me through when things are tough? I have learned that the answer to all of these questions is yes!! That doesn't mean that I sometimes still don't have doubts, that I sometimes don't still wonder if God is there? But it does mean, that even when I have doubts, I choose to trust in God; I choose to have faith no matter what circumstances might be.

My husband is fond of saying, "What about when there is no plan b? I have to just trust that God is in control." And he's right... Because sometimes, there is no plan b. Sometimes you have to make the choice to trust God. Sometimes you have to trust and have faith that God sees the bigger picture. And sometimes it's the hardest thing in the world to do. But having faith is a choice I choose to make. For me, there is no other choice.

I saw a quote on someone's facebook today and in researching it found it out it that it was a quote by Martin Luther King. "Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the staircase." I LOVE that quote! I can so relate to that quote. There is so much in my life I have no control over. Really I don't have control over anything. No matter how much or how hard I try to control circumstances, it is God who is in control. And because I believe that God is in control, I can take that first step onto the staircase. Even though I can't see the staircase or don't have any idea where the staircase is leading; I trust and have faith that God is there waiting on me. And because of that faith, I have peace that can only come from God; because peace is the presence of God.

I'll leave you with some of my favorite scriptures from Romans which we are studying in our Bible class right now.

The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26b

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31b

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:18

And my favorite... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessings to you as you take that first step onto the staircase!!


3 comments:

Tim Perkins said...

Great stuff. Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings..."You can't always see God coming but you can always tell where he's been."

Lynn Leaming said...

Another great post Liz! I am so glad to know that someone else actually lets it cross their mind that "God might not really be there". There are times I have felt that way, but there are just too many other times I am certain that He is there, that I try to remind myself of what I know and not go by what I feel. I really think that my life would be so empty if I didn't hold on to faith.
I hung this saying by my bed to see it every morning when I get out of bed "I believe in the sun even when it is not shining, in love, even when I'm alone and in God, even when He is silent."

Deborah said...

What beautiful thoughts! You are such a deep well, Liz, and I am so thankful to know you.

(Love your new blog layout--so pretty!)