Faith

I grew up in church.  Literally. I probably spent more time within the walls of our First Baptist Church than I did my own house.  My sweet mother was over the kindgarten at our church and between going to school there and never missing a church event, well, let's just say I knew that place inside and out. I can remember always feeling safe there...as a young child knowing that it was a place I could always run to if I was lost or if something was wrong.  See, my church was in the CENTER of our town - I could see it clearly from the front windows of my parents' business...I knew that if anything ever happened I could find rescue and safety there.


I had faith in the people within the walls of my church. Before I knew what faith even was, or really what God was all about beyond the stories I heard every Sunday morning and Wednesday night - I knew I trusted that place. From that early age Jesus began a work in me, I believe. And it's a work He continues to this day.

Fast forward 20 something years to where I am today.  I still feel SAFE inside the walls of that building, and within the walls of the church I now call home. I trust the people I know there. I know in moments of trial or triumph - those very people are the ones who will celebrate with me and the ones who will grieve with me.

I have faith in the ones who are in that building.

How often do we walk through our lives and rest solely on the faith we have in "the ones in the building" and not the ONE who created everyone within the building?

How easy is it for me to allow my faith to fall into the hands of mere mortals and forget the faith I am called to have in my perfectly Heavenly Father?

Jesus has certainly been working within me on this one.  BLIND FAITH. Faith is  the complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

It's hard when things are out of our control.  I am okay if I am in control of something, even if i mess it up I realize it is on ME - - and it's a major flaw of mine.  Jesus is stretching me so much lately though and reminding me that I have to put every bit of my hope and trust and faith in Him.  He is, after all, the author and perfector of my faith right?

I look back on that little child who grew up in the church and was there every time the doors were opened and I am drawn to her.  I had no reality of danger - hopelessness - or the need to be rescued at that time but I still knew what a safe place was, and I knew my church was one of those places.

Now, as an adult, I know the reality of fear, loss, disappointment - things getting totally out of control - and i am reminded of the faith the younger version of myself had.  I am challenged by that little girl to live out my faith, to really trust God not just in the rockin good times but even more so in the challenging.  Even when it hurts, to praise Him.

I know I'll never be perfect on this side of eternity.  I'll never have this faith thing downpat.  My prayer for where I am TODAY is that God would continue to point me His direction and continue to remind me that the walls of a place or the people inside it are not be security - but HE is. My Creator, my Redeemer, my perfect Father above.

May He be glorified through all things and in all things forever and ever.  Amen.