A Faith Check Up
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9
My time with God is often while I am out walking in the morning. It seems He meets me while my feet are pounding the pavement and I am engrossed in prayer, worship, or a sermon. It’s been this way since at least 2009.
Last week, I was out walking. I was having a conversation with God, wondering when He is going to show up, to keep the promise I know He made to me.
To refresh your memory, about two years ago, God made it clear that I was trusting my ability to earn a paycheck rather than Him, that I was trusting money rather than Him. I very clearly heard Him say I needed to quit my job. His words were unmistakable: “If you will be obedient, it will be the gateway to greater blessings than you can imagine.”
As I pondered His words, I began to realize just how much I trusted money rather than God (Matthew 6:24). Ouch! Just typing those words hurts. It hurts me that I’ve spent so many years claiming to trust Him while striving to earn more, years of striving rather than resting.
Last week, however, as I was out walking and talking to God, I realized I had never truly confessed and repented of my love of money. As the realization hit me, I began to weep as I confessed my heart attitude as sin before God. I began to ponder what it would look like to truly repent (i.e., turn the other direction). That’s when I called my husband and told him I was handing over control of our finances to him.
That’s tough for me! I’ve handled my own finances and taxes since I was about 12 years old. It’s always been on me. But, I am determined to put my faith in my Jehovah Jireh, not my paycheck.
When I quit my job, I moved into a role as a coach—a role I know God created for me. I know He has ordained this move, this work I have undertaken. But I am struggling to get my business off the ground. I am doing the work, but I am waiting for God to give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). I know this work is an act of walking by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), and I know that’s part of what makes it so difficult. I cannot see the outcome, and I have to trust an unknown (but loving, gracious) God rather than my own abilities.
Let’s be honest: We often also have a pride issue!
As I walked and prayed, I knew God was telling me He finally has me in position to bless me, to open the storerooms of heaven. I’ve finally confessed and repented of my sin and my lack of trust in God. Now, I am in the position He needs me—a position where I can let go of myself and cling to the Great I AM who is always faithful to His promises.
Rarely do I share verbatim from a sermon or devotional, but I want to share these four types of faith I recently heard from Craig Groeschel at Life.Church. He is currently doing his annual At The Movies series where he pulls biblical lessons from movies. This particular sermon was based on a movie titled The Young Woman and the Sea.
The story is based on the true life of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel. Ederle began swimming at a time when women were not allowed in swimming pools and therefore most never learned to swim. Ederle’s mom, however, made the decision her daughters would learn to swim.
Faith to start small. The first lesson we learn about faith is that we must have the faith to start small. When Ederle first began to swim, she was not considered promising enough to be part of the team. Her mother, however, promised she would carry the coal to keep the boiler going if she could learn to swim. It was anything but a glorious start.
It’s the same with us. We have to be willing to start small. For me, it has been laying the ground work. It has been many hours of reaching out to people with little to no response. It has been a grueling year, but it has had some beauty along the way. I led a single mom Christmas dinner, and I’ve begun meeting with a group of single moms along the way. Those are the small beginnings of whatever God plans to do in this season.
It’s far from glorious, but it is a beginning.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin Zechariah 4:10
Faith to face opposition. Along the way, Ederle faced much opposition. She wasn’t good enough to be part of the team. She was swimming in a time when it was considered improper for women to swim. Her father was not supportive. Her coach tried to poison her. We could go on and on about the obstacles in her way, but she felt strongly enough about her path that she kept going.
It’s no different with us. We can be assured we will face opposition. Whether it’s the nay-sayers who tell us we will never succeed or the insecurity and doubt in our own hearts, our faith must be strong enough to keep going. And God promises when we persevere, He will reward.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9
Faith to endure when it hurts. When Ederle first attempted to swim the English Channel, her coach actually sabotaged her. But, on her second attempt, she faced another obstacle: jellyfish. In the movie, there’s a moment when the jellyfish actually turn the water red. The only way is through the jellyfish. You can see the pain as she stung repeatedly, leaving marks all across her body. But she continued to endure.
It’s no different for us. We may not face literal pain, but sometimes the pain we endure is mental or emotional. Sometimes it’s physical. Maybe it’s financial. I don’t know what pain you might be facing as you follow God’s plan for your life, but I do know that God is with you. And the reward is on the other side of the pain.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2
Faith to finish what God started. In the final scene of Ederle’s swim, she faces the most difficult final miles. She cannot be accompanied by a boat. She will be alone in the dark as she attempts to cross the shallows. It’s easy to become disoriented, to get swept out by the currents. Her dad encourages her to turn back, but she chooses to continue pushing forward. Just as she’s about to give up, she sees a light—a light that beckons and directs her to the shore, a light that gives just enough clarity to direct her final moments.
It’s so much like us. We often give up just before we see the breakthrough. In reality, if we will persevere, we will find the light that directs us to the finish line. We will see God’s hand guiding us forward. We will have the strength to keep moving forward until we are able to stand on dry ground at the finish line.
We have been promised that God has begun a good work in us and will be faithful to complete it in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). It was the verse capturing my mind, and it was the verse Groeschel ended with. You see, God is in this journey. Where He calls, He also enables. We just need the faith to keep going.
What is your journey? Where is God calling you from your comfort zone? Where have you yet to see His hand open the doors you were expecting?
Maybe you are in the shallows, and maybe His light is just around the next corner. Keep striving for intimacy with the Father so He can direct your steps.
