Blind and Crazy Faith

 

What is Blind Faith?

 

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

1 John 5:5 (BBE) Who is able to overcome the world but the man (woman) who has faith that Jesus is the Son of God?

“Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.” – Anne Lamott

 

But everything looks impossible. Life is too hard. How am I going to make it? What do I do next?

Storm clouds rise and how can I possibly overcome all the challenges that lie ahead?

How do we overcome unbelief and live in a state of deep faith?

 

The faith of children: life is simple and carefree.  Faith of a young woman. “Why do you always look through rose colored glasses?”

I remember lying on a picnic table and breathing in happiness as I looked at the trees swaying back and forth.  No worries, no cares. My life simple and wonderful at age 7. Running, playing, and frolicking through my days, knowing somehow, deep in my being: Love always won.

As I grow older, however, my sunny outlook clouded with realities. Anger in my house, fighting, and poverty threatened to cripple me.  Mean remarks from other children created doubt that I was loved and special. Something in my soul told me to hold on, be strong because no matter the outside forces trying to crush me, Jesus’s good will prevails in my life.

As a young woman in college, a close friend scolded me for “always looking through rose colored glasses.”  Why did I believe in the good in people? Why did I believe everything in the end would work out for the good?

My faith was not deep enough to answer then. If I could go back in time, my answer would roll easily off my tongue with no doubt: “Faith and belief in the truths of the Bible.”

I loved the Lord and still do so I can cling to the promise found in the Bible verse: Romans 8:28.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I would also quote:  2 Corinthians 5:7New King James Version (NKJV) ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Yes, there are evil people in this world. Yes, tragedy happens. Yes, life can seem cruel, dark, and vicious. Yes, I battle everyday to hold on to my faith. Faith is part of the “cross” that Jesus instructs us to take up daily and follow Him.

Faith that the cross we bear will not crush us. Faith we can overcome the world we face. Faith that He uses even the evil in our world to illustrate the pure and the holy.

Just as for Joseph, he can use man’s evil intent toward me for the good. Even if someone lies about me or casts me down,  God has a purpose and a plan. In the end, all will turn to good.

Even the cruelty of a husband’s abuse worked to my good. Even sickness and arthritis has worked to my good.

Can I say how in fullness right now in this very instant? No. But deep inside, I know these events and situations in my life serve to make my faith stronger and more resilient.

I remember the night my late husband told me, “You don’t deserve love. No one could ever love a worthless cunt like you.”

My answer brought a greater wrath at the time,”God does.” He threw a softball at my head, hitting me and called me  a dumb a– b—-.

He lied. I illustrated my faith by not believing his lies. Even with the blows, I knew God worked in my life daily. I knew He rescues me. He did. He gave me the strength and courage to face life head on and to make the changes I needed to to survive.

Why did I go through what I did in life? My poor choices and stubbornness? My rebellion? My sin? Maybe, partially.

God’s plan, however, despite my decisions, prevailed and conquered all.

The strength of crazy and deep faith lies in the fact that when we are loved by God and love Him, he uses everything to our benefit: even our mistakes, our failures, our diseases, our hurts, and the evil other men do to us. We learn from them. We grow from them. We use them to illustrate that God’s love is stronger and deeper.

[tweetthis twitter_handles=”@MaryHill16″]By keeping faith, not looking at the temporary, we transform into living testimonies to God’s glory.[/tweetthis]

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Written for Holly Mueller’s Spiritual Journey Thursdays where today’s prompt is Justin Stygles’s  One Little Word for the New Year:  (Blind) FAITH. You are welcome to join us in the journey.

I am also linking up with great linkups listed on my Linkup Parties page.