Fierce Faith
At the beginning of 2019, I received the word “Peace” from the Lord and felt that this was going to be the overarching theme for my year. However, I suspected that the year would not be all rosy and that my peace would be challenged. But I also knew that the experiences would leave me a better person than they found me.
Just as I suspected, the year was wrought with challenges to my peace: in February, my sister almost died from sepsis when her colon ruptured from a cancerous tumor. In July, my mother went from fully functioning with mild dementia to needing constant supervision. In October, I lost a dear friend. And in November, some very deep hurts were excavated and subjected to the healing light of day. As the ground shook under my feet, I hung on to the unshakeable rock of Jesus. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” Hebrews 10:23.
I also relied on my yoga practice and the prayers of my faithful friends to ground me and give me strength.
While this year was filled with trials, it also held many front row seat opportunities to witness God at work making miracles happen all around me. You see its rare to see a miracle if you do not need one.
2019 also brought several unforgettable blessings: In May, my youngest graduated from college and started a full time job in his chosen career. In September, I co-led a yoga retreat for 20 beautiful souls in the South of France. In October, my oldest got engaged to a fantastic woman that I feel is a daughter to me. And in December, my husband’s job shifted so that he no longer had to commute to Flagstaff. I’m also happy to report that both my sister and my mother are doing well. Yes, many prayers were answered this year!
Much of life requires us “… to walk by faith and not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7; to trust in the greater plan even when we do not see the outcome or understand why the unthinkable is happening to us. There are those that think faith is not for them but in reality, all of us exercise some faith every day. It requires faith to believe that the sun will rise in the morning, it requires faith to trust that the traffic lights will correctly control oncoming traffic. We even have faith that the people who prepare our food will do it correctly so we don’t get sick. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1.
Without faith, we would be living in constant anxiety and fear. Having faith is crucial to our mental stability. And luckily for me, “only a mustard seed amount of faith is needed” Matthew 17:20 to believe that the creator of the universe and lover of my soul will pull me out of the deepest pit. “…..I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24.
And as we profess these truths they become more real and develop a fierce faith that makes us courageous to step out even when our natural eyes show us nothing but things to fear.
May 2020 hold blessings that encourage your faith!