Faith is not just a Sunday service or a simple word. It is a feeling, a relationship or a covenant that connects our hearts closely to God. Beyond our very eyes, a trust that we have never realized peacefully intrudes our presence. Our actions and commitment to God define how much he means to us.
My personal faith has been tested on multiple accounts, but God showed me that these experiences are more than just lessons. They are reminders of his love and and presence. Growing up, it took time to fully understand my faith. As a kid, I learned to avoid obvious sins like lying, stealing and cheating.
When I was eight-years-old, I discovered God’s unconditional love in a moment that could have been much worse. My faith was tested when I was involved in a tragedy.
When my three siblings and I were playing a game in our upstairs apartment, we all jumped on the bunk bed and playfully defended ourselves from our father who was chasing us around the house.
Unaware of what would happen, we continued laughing and pushing one another until that moment of fear. Leaning on the window, I fell and landed on a bush that later visually resembled the palm of God’s hand. I was scraped up and suffered a minor sprain on my left wrist.
My initial thoughts were fear and uncertainty, but I understood something in that moment that I never thought I would at eight-years-old.
Even though I grew up reading the Bible and consistently went to church, I never realized that God was with me physically and emotionally. My eyes were opened spiritually.
My faith became defined by the love and protection God showed me as my father and the author of my story. Faith for me is trusting in God’s timing, even when I did not know how it could align with my expectations.
A common misconception is that faith is easy, but it is not as simple as many believe. Through faith, we face trials and tribulations, but the outcome is valuable.
1 Peter 1: 7 (NIV) says, “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
To me, faith is stepping into something you cannot see and still trusting the process. As follower’s of Christ our faith is tested every day. With the strength and courage of God, we know that we will succeed. What is faith to you?
