Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

As followers of God, we are called to worship and actively use our faith.  I’ve experienced faith’s transformative power so often because I required it to survive life’s troubles.  When we use our faith diligently, we flourish, gaining wisdom and peace. 

Despite occasional doubts about God’s ways and means, faith helps us understand that we don’t always need to comprehend; we just need to trust.  I’ve often learned this the hard way, but when I trusted God, I found courage and lost fear. 

A few years ago, my best buddy lost his youngest son.  When I heard this, I immediately called him and said the only words that came to mind: “Rich, this is when you must USE your faith.” 

Our faith holds us together when we endure crushing blows and losses.  Believing in God’s capability keeps us moving, provides a comforting embrace, and is a source of resilience. 

Soon after my daughter finished her cancer treatments and was on her way to completely healing, my son broke his neck on our summer vacation.  When the doctor informed us of his condition, I ran from the room and faced a corner in the hallway.  I beat my fist against the walls and selfishly shouted, “God, I can’t do this!  I am not doing this!  It’s too much to bear!”

My daughter grabbed my shoulders as I shook and ranted.  I was so mad at God for the suffering my children had sustained I didn’t know what to do. 

That lasted for about two minutes, and suddenly, as if transported, I saw the Lord walking down the hall toward me.  Then I became as calm as one could imagine and returned to the room where my son lay, and we prayed.  I went from anger to acceptance within seconds because I remembered God was there with us.   

We were in his hands. 

The encounter with Christ, and I do mean an encounter, reminded me that He is always near, available to give us strength, hope, and love. 

I used my faith to help my children, and we endured the turbulence.  Thankfully, all my children are healthy and happy today. 

We worship, pray, and try to be good disciples of our faith, but that same belief should be used from the grocery store to the office, from our spoken words to our listening skills.    Our faith is to be used in grief and in our joy and never put aside for the benefit of our political or personal preferences.

Compassion, kindness, gentleness, honor, humility, and love are all components of our belief in God.  If we use them throughout the hours of our days, they ease tension and create harmony for all. 

Of course, we are all human, and it is easier to use our faith on Sundays but harder to remember on Mondays.  However, God never stops believing in us to do the right thing. 

We cherish His arms around us when we are broken and need healing, but do we feel Him when we are at a party or cooking dinner?  Do we hear Him when our voices spew nastiness or when we spread rumors and lies?   When we disparage others, cheat, complain, and are inconsiderate, we have ignored our faith and the one who gave it to us.

I was born loving God.  I have sinned, yelled, and done many terrible things, yet He has stood with me.   I have no doubt about his presence and endless mercy.

Grandpa (aka my grandmother) was standing in the kitchen with flour on her hands and knee-deep in cooking.  Her husband (aka my granddaddy) kept talking as she was absorbed in her busy work.  Obviously, he was on her last nerve.  “John, hush now, can’t you see I am too busy to listen!”  She, who never yelled, used a less-than-shouting tone, but one could hear her exasperation and irritation.

I was a youngster and rather shocked because Grandpa never did anything to cause God to shake his head.  Yet, she must have seen the Lord in the kitchen that day.

“Well, shoot, I know I’m gonna get myself a talkin’ to!” she said.  After Granddaddy walked away, she noticed my eyes were as big as saucers. 

“Grandpa, who’s going to fuss at you?” I asked. 

“Oh, honey, God heard and saw how I just acted.  I reckon my faith flew out the window because I let frustration fly in.” 

From then on, I always knew the Lord was in the kitchen, walking down the halls of every home and strolling down the corridors of hospitals everywhere.

Just use your faith to see Him.

2nd Corinthians 5:7: “For we live by faith, not by sight.”