Sherry Sommer
I like how Alex suggested that we think of faith as trust in God. I can relate to that because my faith journey has been a process of growing in trust. I’ve always loved to read and learn, question, and grow, so I learned to trust God and Jesus intellectually. I’ve been less trusting in applying my belief to everyday life. I’ve needed to learn to live out my faith with wisdom. Relationships — with God, other people, and with myself — have helped me want to persevere in spite of the inevitable bumps and bruises.
When I became a Christian, I thought I’d obey and God would make my path straight. However, trust was not automatic. It’s no wonder; faith is not intuitive. The book of Hebews defines faith as “… confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV.) Sometimes I would confuse faith with “being impulsive”. Other times I’d retreat like a turtle. I’ve learned that learning to live by faith requires growing; and growing involves making mistakes.
Relationships with other believers have been an anchor as I’ve learned to walk by faith. Hebrews 10: 24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” I’ve found that the most encouraging Christians I know don’t see others as projects. Instead they welcome new people as friends. There is no greater gift a Christian can give to another than their friendship.
My relationship with the Holy Spirit was also essential in learning to trust God. Reading the Bible and Christian books, attending church, and serving were outward activities I did to grow in my faith. Those all are good things. What really sets Christianity apart from other religions and moral activities is that Jesus himself helps, teaches, and comforts us.
Finally, I’ve learned that having a good relationship with myself is essential to trusting God. In Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus says, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” I’ve learned that I need to love myself and treat myself gently in order to be able to love others. It has meant remembering what Paul says in Ephesians 2:10,
“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God has created each one of us for a reason, because he cares about us. I’ve been learning that serving God doesn’t mean exhausting myself by saying yes to every request. There is so much freedom in learning to trust God “in the everyday”.
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