Faith Walking 101

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NJKV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.

A few years back, the small groups at my church studied the book of James over a six week period. I just love studying the book of James! The people who know me well know that a statement like this doesn't roll off of my tongue quite so easily. After all, who wants to “consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of any kind” right? Most of us find it next to impossible to see a glimmer of joy during any part of our trial and pain. We just want the joy to come...and the pain to go.

This is me to a "T."  When suffering comes, I would rather head for the comforts of my "pit" than  be joyful. But God doesn't want us to retreat to the comforts of our pits when trials come. I have learned this lesson all too well. For a few years it seemed like every time I walked through a season of trial, our church would either do a sermon series or our small groups would have lessons surrounding the book of James.  OY! God sure knows how to get a point across doesn't He?  

Each time I study the book of James my faith is ultimately strengthened and I sometimes find myself getting excited by what God is going to do in my life and the lives of those going through the series with me. There are always AWESOME testimonies when we go through the book of James. 

“We walk by FAITH, not by sight.” So how do you the tough times of life? Do you enter a trial recognizing you have no control over your circumstances and give the situation to God immediately? Or, do you try to handle "things" on your own until it’s gets to the point where you’ve let it consume you and you just want out? I can remember wondering why God didn’t just step in and stop me from making some of the horrible mistakes I made.

I think the questions above are best answered by how close a relationship we have with Christ. For the longest time, I responded to life's little trials with the same knee-jerk reaction...I tried to control the situation instead of handing it over to God and allowing Him work. I soon learned that I walked through the same trial over and over again because I wasn't looking to the very ONE whom could work all things together for my good (Romans 8:28). 

God is sovereign. He can see the entire canvas of our lives. He sees our times of joy and our times of sorrow/trial. Because of this, we must get to a place where we can trust that He sees the entire picture. It’s faith that leads us on our journey…not sight. Putting our faith (trust) in Christ, is the only way we are going to have the joy and abundant life He has promised us in His word. If we continue to hold on to our own agendas, we will fail every time because only He can see the canvas of our lives. 

So what do you say...are you ready to do some "faith walking" with me?

Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 14:31; Psalms 37:4; Isaiah 40:28-31