Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and
certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Last year, I got to observe first hand birds building a nest. From building the nest, to nuturing the babes, to the miracle of flight, I witnessed it all, right through my window on the world - my front door.
This year, the birds have decided to set up camp someplace else. Not that I've seen them. Nope, haven't seen a thing. Wouldn't even know they're around. Except for one thing. I hear them. The tweeting, the cooing, the fluttering. Only this time, it's behind a wall inside a chimney.
How do I know what they're doing if I can't see them?
Based on prior experience, I know. I don't need to see them to know what they’re doing this year because of my experience last year. I have faith that what I’m hearing is what I’ve seen before.
God defines faith as substance of things hoped for, things NOT seen. But faith is not blind. It's based upon evidence.
- We have previous, personal experiences where God revealed Himself to us. He gave us hope in dire times, peace in troublesome times, love in lonely times.
- We have the eye witness testimony of our friends, loved ones, fellow believers who have encountered His presence, provision, protection.
- Even with no prior experience, we can have faith based on the accounts of the saints (Hebrews 11) and others, and Jesus Himself speaks to us, encouraging us to "Remember the words I spoke to you..." John 15:20
The word "remember" appears 233 times in the Bible. Even though there are things that God forgets (thankfully!), we are instructed to remember the times that He was faithful to us and base our faith on His faithfulness. Repeatedly, we're told He will never leave us or forsake us.
When we can't see through the fog, we can believe the road is still there.
When we can't see past the stones bombarding us, we can rely on the One who is the solid Rock.
When we can't see what the future holds, we can trust the One who holds the future.
I’m not the only one who has faith that the birds, though unseen, are there, building away. My dog can't see the birds, but she sure can hear them. Between the cooing, the fluttering, the tweeting, and the barking, it is a veritable cacophony of sounds, an orchestra from God.
Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark.
Beloved, is it dark where you are today?
Can you trust that He will bring you the dawn?
9 comments:
What is amazing to me is that faith is so complicated yet so simple at the same time. I'll be asking God for more of it in some difficult days to come for our family. Once you experience it - you're hooked, and that's the beauty of God's provision process. Beautiful post.
I've been holding onto what He has done for us in the past to help us through the present. He is faithful and I need to remember to be faithful to remember that!
He IS faithful. What a rest there is in that. Thank you, Susan, for sharing this.
Blessings,
Karen
Hi Susan -
Great analogy!
The last seven years, my theme has been the faithfulness of God. When I look back, I wonder how I survived. It was simply by trusting Him one moment at a time.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Good post! I often wonder why it is so easy for us to trust in the chair we sit in that it won't fall apart on us and cause us to end up on the floor. God is so much more faithful yet trusting Him seems difficult. Could it be that we are projecting our own unfaithfulness onto the very God who never fails?
Susan:
I have had to hold onto God for so many years, I feel it's the natural thing to do.
A good word on "faith"... Faith is my first name; my parents have always called me by my middle name, Elaine. In doing so, they've given me a rich metaphor regarding the struggle that exists between my "faith" and my "elaine"--a lifelong struggle.
You're right... our remembering the faithfulness of God in seasons past is a wonderful way of anchoring our hope in the "now."
I needed the reminder today.
peace~elaine
I really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog. I would like to invite you to come over to my blog when you get a chance and check it out. God bless, Lloyd
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