radical faith
Real faith in Christ is restorative, reformative, and it reshapes us and radically changes our lives from the inside out. It isn't about "living right" but instead living OUT the faith that we have in Jesus. This kind of faith, a faith that is only a gift to us through God's grace and not something we can manufacture, has the power to redirect, recapture and realign our hearts. It gives us a heart of obedience - a heart that longs to follow God's will for our lives. And it gives me the strength to submit to the will of God when His plan looks different than mine.
Hebrews 11 | acts of faith
...even when you cannot see
even when you don't understand why
even when you don't know what's next
even when it isn't what you want to do
even when it seems crazy
even when you don't fully trust
even when you doubt or forget His promises
even when you don't feel equipped...
…have faith.
I have realized that so much of my purpose in life involves blindly stepping out in faith and following what I believe God wants for me, even when it feels uncomfortable. Except, it isn't really blindly following Him at all - even when we feel anxious, scared, unprepared, or doubtful, or when the future seems too unknown to do anything that isn't known, we know who God is. God is good. God will never leave or forsake us. God is working all things together for the good of those who love and seek Him. God wants the best for you. God wants you to cast your cares and burdens on Him.
If this is true, why would He ask you to do anything that isn't good for you, even when it doesn't feel good?
I often feel convicted for letting my feelings be the worship of my heart. Or for letting my feelings define my reality, how I feel about myself, and how I feel about God.
v.4 - Abel probably felt utterly terrified when he genuinely believed that he was going to sacrifice his brother. His feelings did not stop him from acting on his faith in what he believed God was asking him to do. However, God ultimately did not ask him to offer his brother, He asked him to offer his faith.
v.7 - Noah probably felt confused, ridiculous and maybe even angry as he built the ark with absolutely no sign of rain. But in faith, he built the ark and trusted that there was a reason God asked him to do this.
v.8 - Faith in God motivated Abraham to leave what felt comfortable to him in order to physically follow God. And he didn't know where he was going either!
v.11 - Sarah probably felt heartbroken, and maybe a little physically broken after not having a child for her entire life. In faith, however, she could embrace and worship God and His promise to miraculously give her a child.
If you lack faith, motivation, purpose, or trust, choose instead to tap into who you know and believe God to be and hold fast to that for your sense of safety and comfort. Trustworthy, constant, reliable, steady, unfailing, a solid foundation.
This gift of faith allows me to be so much more focused on God and others, instead of keeping the focus on myself and constantly striving to make myself feel happy, comfortable and safe.
My feelings do not dictate who God is nor what His plans are for me. I would rather seek God through the hardships of living out radical faith rather than consistently miss Him in my day-to-day life of clinging to comfort and familiarity.
