The Problem of Faith
What kind of problems are you facing? I've got a whole list. Organized and prioritized, I go over my list every day. Big and little, problems are all around us. Finances, health, and relationships are what I like to call the big 3. It is rare in my life that the big 3 are all problem free at the same time, and I think that might be true for a lot of us. Maybe it's a few extra pounds, a loan collector that won't stop calling, or a fractured friendship that you're not sure how to fix. These kind of problems are easy to ignore for the most part, but what happens when you get hit with a big one? I'm talking about the kind of problem that fills your vision, that you can't see past. The one that shifts your perspective and challenges your faith. Do you know that feeling? When you look at the Word and you see blessing, protection and favour - and then you look around you and see the opposite? How do you reconcile your faith with your circumstances? God's been speaking to me about this lately, and I'm still working out the Word He's put in me. But I think the key is faith. Let's look at "faith" for a minute. The definition is "complete trust or confidence in something or someone". The Bible tells us that faith is the confidence of what we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see. Assurance of what we do not see! Do you hear the freedom there? When your faith is in Jesus, your complete trust is in Him, you can be absolutely sure and confident that His words for you are true. Even when you don't see it.
The Word also tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Let's flip that. When you have faith, God is pleased! When you continue to trust Jesus even when you don't see Him in your circumstances, God is pleased. And things start to change. Here's the secret:
Faith doesn't deny the problem, it denies the power of the problem.
Faith is not stupidity. It is not living in denial of your circumstances. Faith acknowledges what's in front of you, but knows that it has no power against the word of God. Here's how this is working out in my life.
I have the hardest time finding community. Real, life giving, accountable, loving, community. For the last few years it just hasn't worked for me. My circumstance says, give up! Everyone has rejected you and there is no hope. Faith says, keep trying! Community is so important and you have lots to offer. You are meant for this. I can choose to give the power to the problem, or to keep faith in God's Word for me. I choose faith.
I look in the mirror and see a lot of flaws. A bulge here, a blemish there, a scar over here. It's ugly. The weight I cannot lose taunts me, and my circumstance says again - there is no hope here, there is nothing lovable. Faith says, you Amy, are wonderfully made. Jesus looks at me with such overwhelming love and pride that I can't help but smile because faith is stronger than my circumstances. I am completely lovable just the way I am.
Whatever problem is filling your vision - don't give it any power. Tell it about your faith. Speak out the truth, God's Word, and have complete confidence in it. If you're not sure what the truth is, ask someone you trust who can help you hear God's truth over the noise of your problem. When God reveals the truth to you, put your faith in it, in Him. If He tells you you are beautiful, believe it and live it. Everything will change.
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the veins, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. Habakkuk 3:17-19
