Faith

Yesterday I wrote about fear, so today it seems fitting to write about its defeater, faith.

A terrible line of storms, stretching from Corpus Christi, Texas, into Kansas pushed its way east last night. Ordinarily, storms do not bother me. But, this one had the media in a tizzy and had produced at least on life-ending tornado by the time I went to bed. It didn't reach my neck of the Piney Woods until after midnight, but when it did, it was loud, fast, and fierce enough to send me running away from windows. The lights flickered, debris hit the roof, and a terrifying whistling filled the air. I paused, waiting for the house to begin shaking, anticipating my roof being ripped off above me.

As humans we fear. We have since it was introduced with sin in the Garden of Eden. I prayed before I went to bed last night, I prayed for protection from that very storm. How quickly I forgot, how easily I neglected my faith. I remembered it soon enough, though. When the initial scare was over, I relaxed and spoke the name of Jesus and was able to fall back to sleep, and when my alarm went off this morning, I instinctively said "thank you."

How lucky we are that God doesn't forget us. I forget that He has promised to provide for and protect me, but He's never once let me down.

When the challenges of my day start accumulating, and they always do, it is so simple to not only get frustrated, but to also show that frustration, thus potentially ruining an opportunity to witness. One such incident happened just this morning. I've had an issue with one person in particular for some time now and my buttons were pushed today. And for some reason, no doubt the prayer-answering God I serve, I remembered that they don't do it unto me, they do it unto Him. And, in the words of my Aunt Wilma, "God don't like ugly."

I've got no control over this person's actions. Sure, in my human profession I can exercise some power, but ultimately, it is in God's hands. I remembered this and relaxed. He's got it under control and I just need to focus on pleasing Him.

This experience today is special to me, in part because I've struggled on my walk as of late. My faith and convictions have been challenged over the past few weeks. But when God ever so subtly reminds me that He hears my prayers, that He is ever-present and willing to stand by me and strengthen me, worship swells in my soul. Isn't it amazing, humbling, wonderful, to know that no matter how far we stray, no matter how much we may change, God remains the same. Even when we are far, He is near. He is my rock.