Faith is the “firm belief in something for which there is no proof,” according to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary. Wikipedia defined it as “the confident belief or trust in the truth or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.” I define it as unconditional love to an unseen, unheard, or untouched being and/or belief.

Faith is nonexistent to many people I know. It’s understandable, and logical. How can someone wholeheartedly trust something that’s invisible? It would be blind love to do so, and well, love makes people vulnerable. People have a hard time loving what’s sure and physically present – how can they love the unsure? And doing things blind? Well, that just has a bad stigma to it. Like going in blind in a hand of poker. How silly!

On the other side, believers may struggle holding on to their faith. I know I do (yes, I am a believer!). I am a devoted woman of faith, but at times, I can be led astray of what’s most important. Personally, I say that it’s unhealthier, and riskier, to be blinded by money, fame, success, material things, stepping on others to get ahead, etc., than it is to share a blind love with God. Before, when people claimed they “found” God, I had no idea what they were talking about. They sounded crazy! But then in high school, I “found” him too… but not in a way you normally find things under your bed or car seat or anything. It’s like, you find Him living inside you. The world isn’t hazy anymore. Things literally become clearer around you. It’s hard to explain. But your spirits are lifted and you don’t feel “blind” anymore, even though you never realized you were “blind” before.

I don’t have all the answers. Once again, I’m only 23. Ha ha. But a friend did forward me an email last night that reminded me why I continue to have faith in God, and the importance of holding onto that faith, no matter what difficulties I may be going through. I hope this helps some of you the way it helped me.

Fwd: The Foundation of Faith

Compiled by: David Wilkerson, Founding Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City

What foundation is your faith built upon? Scripture tells us faith comes by hearing, and that God’s Word gives us “spiritual ears,” enabling us to hear (see Romans 10:17). Well, here’s what the Bible says about the wilderness experiences in our lives:
 
·         “Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up…Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good…hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble” (Psalm 69:15-17). Clearly waters of affliction flood the lives of the godly.
·         “For thou, O God, has proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins…we went through fire and through water” (66:10-12). Who brings us into a net of afflictions? God himself does.
·         “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word…It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (119:67, 71). These verses make it perfectly clear. It’s good for us—it even blesses us—to be afflicted.
 
Consider the Psalmist’s testimony: “I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications…. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul” (Psalm 116:1-4). Here was a faithful servant who loved God and had great faith. Yet he faced the sorrows of pain, trouble and death.
 
We find this theme throughout the Bible. God’s Word loudly declares that the path to faith is through the floods and fires: “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters” (Psalm 77:19). “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth…. I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19). “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 42:3). “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:13).
 
This last verse holds an important key: In every wilderness we face, our Father is holding our hand. Yet only those who go through the wilderness get this hand of comfort. He outstretches it to those who are caught in raging rivers of trouble.

To subscribe to the devotional, please click the following link: Subscribe