Faith

Today I read a powerful statement in one of my devotional studies. Mary Southerland wrote, "Faith does not bypass pain, but it empowers you to deal with it.”  This struck a chord in me and led me to reflect on how I process my pain with my faith.

If I am being honest, there are times I skew what faith means by thinking that I should not be even feeling pain.  I trust God.  I trust Him with the outcome for whatever I'm facing so I should be happy right?  I should “feel” good and unflappable.  Not so.  God created my emotions.  I will feel pain, disappointment, sorrow, sadness, anger, and frustration.  Those emotions are all real.  I am human.  But my faith will not allow those emotions to rule over me.  My faith will not allow me to succumb to them by letting them guide my every action and reaction.  My faith is based on the word of God and who He is; unchanging.  My faith reminds me that my emotions,  while natural, are only temporary and God’s promises to me are eternal.

When I try to push down the pain or deny that it even exist I am operating in pride and not faith.  God tells me that I can cast my anxieties upon Him because He cares for me ( 1 Peter 5:7).  He tells me that He bears my burdens daily( Psalms 68:19).  He knows that we will have trouble on this earth, but He has also made provisions for us.  He has empowered us through faith. Faith that He has given each us.  Faith to believe and trust in Him.