Monday, July 16, 2018

Guest Post - Faith Don't Fit


This guest post is a late birthday present from my son. I think it's right on time. It makes my heart sing when my children share these thoughts with me. It lets me know the hard work is not in vain. Read on and be encouraged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is faith? It's defined as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not
seen in the Good Book (Hebrews 11:1). Martin Luther King Jr. described it as “taking the first step, without seeing the whole staircase." Webster defines it as a firm belief in something for which there is no proof.


Faith, by definition alone, is not practical. Practicality depends on circumstances, faith operates outside the limits of circumstance. Faith can be ridiculous in the eyes of judgment, but faith is bravery.

Samuel Ullman said, “You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt,” assigning some sort of regenerative power to the quality of faith. Isaiah 40:30-31 somewhat affirms this quality of faith stating “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

So faith is power. But what does this power look like? What brings this power to life? “Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26).” This scripture reveals that faith is not a noun, but a verb. It is a belief, but it is a belief that requires action to define it. The ugly counterpart to faith is one that many know well; fear. It manifests itself in a million different ways. Doubt, as referenced by Ullman, jealousy, unbelief, control, and even comfort are some of the masks that fear puts on in an attempt to rob us of our faith.

Fear is the enemy of faith, and in order to win any battle, you must first recognize your enemy. Perhaps you’ve felt like you should go a certain career route, but you can’t possibly see how it would pan out for you, plus the journey is uncertain, full of what ifs. You already have a secure job despite the fact that it drains you. But through everything that feeling persists, and you realize it's less of a feeling and more of a calling. Yet there are still so many “buts.” Bad news - the “buts" and “what-ifs,” in any situation, are usually fear. That is not your intuition, it is your doubt.

These doubts keep us from taking the BOLD actions needed to feed faith, strengthen us along our journey and ultimately live an abundant life, by faith. Faith instead says take the first step. Once you’ve taken that first step faith leads you to an even bigger step and says, "take this one too." This continues and with each step, faith prepares you with the memory of the victory faith won against doubt at the last step.

I'm sure this sounds idealistic and maybe too good to be true, but it’s not. Faith is simple, but it’s not easy. It’s uncomfortable, uncertain, unpredictable, and often unconventional. Faith may embarrass you to others, but only for a moment before it elevates you above the crowd of fear. Fear manifests itself in many ways, but it is no match for faith which is at the center of all great things. It has been said that the best things in life are on the other side of fear, but it takes faith to cross that bridge. If you’ve lived a life led by anything but faith and are fearful of how a leap or even a small step of faith will change your comfortable life, don’t worry. Faith doesn’t fit, it expands.



Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1


Faith doesn't fit, it expands. Expand your faith.

--Nylse

Thanks for reading. Please take a moment to share using the buttons below and also please like my Facebook Page. Don't forget to subscribe. Stay Encouraged!


5 comments:

  1. Faith doesn't fit, it expands. Expand your faith. Love that!
    Your neighbor at Inspire me Monday

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful post. Faith is action. It is our hopes and dreams, but we move with the Lord to create action to bring about the fruition of our faith. Thanks for sharing on the #LMMLinkup this week.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am currently doing a study on faith. Faith is action - sometimes doing it afraid

    ReplyDelete
  4. FAITH... We have to trust and step out on faith. "A small step of faith will change your comfortable life". Yes!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Real faith changes us, doesn't it?!

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your comments; but please be kind. Unkind comments will be removed.