Faith.
Faith is such a simple word but a fully encompassing action.
I can look back on different parts of my life and see places where my faith is all that carried me.
I can also look at other times and see when I worked on my own, outside of my faith, and made a mess of things in my attempt to “fix” it.
By Oxford dictionary definition, faith is “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.”
The Bible defines this a bit further:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
If we combine these two, we understand faith is giving our complete trust to the Lord, regardless of what we see or know on our own.
It’s not leaning on my own understanding because I have “knowledge” that helps me to determine the next step.
It’s not planning out a future for myself with a map and a compass and believing that God will give me the desires of my heart.
It’s not working in my own strength and then giving my acceptance speech that names God for making it possible.
It’s stepping out into the unknown with confidence that my Heavenly Father has a plan for my good. That he brings that plan to fruition.
It’s knowing I must acknowledge him first, before I take a step…before I make a move.
It’s seeking his kingdom first and THEN knowing he adds all these things unto me.
It’s understanding that when I seek HIS heart, my desires align with his.
It’s trusting that, even when I can’t see it, there’s a plan in play. A plan put in motion by the maker of heaven and Earth. Who is Alpha and Omega. Who sees through time because he’s present in all aspects.
It’s believing that no matter the outcome, there is purpose.
I think about my precious girl lying literally lifeless in a hospital bed unable to breathe for herself. Sitting beside her bed, laying my hands on her body, crying out to the very one who breathed life into her. Declaring life. Declaring healing. Declaring wholeness.
Not because I had the power to will it. I fully understood my powerlessness in those moments.
Yet faith stood strong.
Faith in the one who is my peace.
Faith in the one who already held the keys to death and grave.
Faith that there is an expected end for that baby and He would bring her to it.
Faith that acknowledged that even if the outcome didn’t look like what I wanted, I still knew and believed he was good.
So…even when it doesn’t look like what we think…faith enables us to say “even so…”
Several weeks ago, the Lord began pouring into me via many avenues. “Don’t look to the right or to the left” and the sign I knew was meant for me at the Hobby Lobby that simply says “He has a plan. Trust him,” as two examples.
Faith and trust go hand in hand. You can’t have faith without trust, it’s part of the very definition.
I don’t know what is to come.
I don’t know what will happen.
I don’t know what the plan is.
I don’t know where this path is leading.
I know WHO holds all of these pieces though.
I trust him completely.
Even when it’s hard.
I have faith.
❤️
Just Between Me & Jesus 