Through The Darkness

I am giving praise that I had a wonderful getaway to a Women's conference in Atlanta Thursday - Saturday. I felt like a dry sponge going in - but coming out, feel so refreshed and rejuvenated.  It was a great time of fellowship and rejoicing and rest.  I am grateful to a God who knows what I need - and when I need it!

 

I rode a bus up there with a group of 54 women, from 14 churches.  On the way home, it was sunset, and the shades were drawn.  I took a little nap, and when I woke up, it was pitch black in the bus.  I had no phone connection or wifi, so I had no idea where I was.   I couldn't see the road ahead, because I was sitting in the back of the bus.  I was disoriented because I didn't recognize anything in the dark silhouettes passing on the side of the road.

 

I didn't know where I was, I wasn't sure where I was going - but I was not distressed. Because I had faith in the driver, and I knew he knew where he was taking me.

 

HELLO!

 

Faith.  What is faith?  A big part of it is trust.  Hebrews 11:1 says in verse 11 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

 

Isaiah 26:4 says "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, has a famous quote that says "Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

 

The evidence of things unseen.  It's not FAITH if you can SEE it.  And boy, do we want to see it - feel it, understand it.

 

There are times we see more than others.  In times of great stress and duress, like a divorce or a separation, we have no choice but to walk by faith.  We are filled with why?  Why did this happen?  Why do I have to go through this?  What is going to happen next?

 

FAITH.  It is the answer to the questions.  Trusting in God for the next step.  We put our foot out into the dark - and trust that God will put the next step there for our foot to land on.

 

He always does.

 

He always gets us to where we need to go.  If we choose to trust ourselves and our ways, we will take the long way.  But if we choose to trust God, and have faith in His ways, then we will get where He wants us to be...with a lot less pain.

 

It's not an easy lesson.  It's not an easy time.  The rewards, however, are eternal.  The growth that comes from that mustard seed faith - that tiny, trusting seed - will grow us.  Next time, we will have a little more confidence to trust Him.  How do we trust Him more?  By exercising our faith.

 

Pray.  Journal.  Talk to your Father.  Ask Him to help you.  He understands. 

 

Exercise your faith that He has a plan for you - Jeremiah 29:11.  

 

This, too, shall pass.