Has your faith been tested? Have you found it hard to have unwavering, phenomenal faith in God and His abilities when life has served you trial after trial? Please don't feel ashamed or guilty if your answer to that question is yes. Like you, my faith has also been tested. We've all experienced some form of pain, heartbreak, loss and sadness in life. In life, "minor" disturbances can shake our faith as can monumental changes like losing a loved one. Whether big or small, life will undoubtedly send trials and tests our way. So, how do we deal with them? How do we handle the pressures and tests of the world when we're supposed to have one of the greatest things a Christian can have - Faith.
Faith is a seed
When you are experiencing trials, I want you to be reminded that you are being planted, not buried. When you plant something (a seed, an idea, or a thought), the intention and hope is that it will grow and bear fruit of some kind. Don't perceive or mistake being planting as being buried, because trust me ... God's not done with you yet. Think about the fact that grapes must be crushed to make wine, diamonds are formed under pressure, olives are pressed to release oil and seeds grow in darkness. Whenever your faith is feeling crushed, under pressure or in darkness, just know it's a reminder from God that you are in a powerful place of evolution, growth and transformation, as is your faith. Be patient with yourself, your situation and most importantly with God because your new level of faith is waiting to be birthed. The scripture says that fire tests and purifies gold; but how amazing is it to know that the value and preciousness of gold can't even begin to compare to the value and preciousness of your faith. When your faith is tested, it provides more opportunities for it to be purified and strengthened. When you can stand firm and root your faith in God and not in the things of this world, know that with Him, there is not a single thing you cannot overcome.
Faith is precious and valuable
So how can we have faith? What do we need to do? In all honesty, to have faith, all you need to do is simply believe. That's it, just one word - believe. But I know it's not as easy as it seems. Faith is like a seed, and like a seed, it needs to be nurtured, watered and cared for. Help yourself and your faith grow by staying connected to God. Develop your relationship with God and if you've yet to start, create a relationship with Him. You put your faith in something or someone you trust, and you can't trust someone you don't talk to, so talk to God. Pray to God. Build your confidence in Him. Find comfort by reading His words in the Bible. Sometimes it's hard to have faith when at times, the world makes you doubt yourself or your belief in God; or when you experience testing situations. But I want you to know how precious and comforting it is to have faith. In spite of the trials and the doubts we sometimes have, I find faith is beautiful and valuable. Faith is believing in what the eyes can't see, the mouth can't taste and the hands can’t touch. Faith lives in your spirit and in your heart. Faith, however, won't always be a feeling. It will need to be a firm decision you have to stand on, just like the first moment you decided to believe in God. Take yourself back to the very first moment you believed in your heart that God is real. Remember that your trials won't last forever; it's just for a little while as the scripture says.
Faith is a decision to cherish forever
The scripture provides a sweet reminder to be truly glad, so I have decided that I will. I have decided that in all things, I will be truly glad because wonderful joy lies ahead. In the end, everything will be well with you and for you because "all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28). In times of sorrow, I pray you hold onto hope. In times of doubt, I pray you hold onto your faith. The trials of this world will inevitably come, but you shall overcome them. Weapons will form, but they shall never prosper against you (Isaiah 54:17).
So my dear friend, I want to encourage you to be truly glad; have faith throughout the trials of life because the Lord will "bestow on [you] a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isaiah 61:3) Selah.
Out of the ashes, beauty shall rise; so will you and so will your faith.
Sending love and positivity your way
Danielle
XO
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