We look around us and, sometimes, we struggle to see anything good. There is pain and sadness and loss. The walking wounded are everywhere and we don’t always know what to say. Just have faith – that tends to be one of our default responses.
You can’t pay your bills? Just have faith.
That relationship seems broken beyond repair? Just have faith.
Dashed dreams? Painful loss? Ill loved ones? Misunderstandings? Just have faith.
What does that even mean?
Take just a moment and read Hebrews 11 – and read it slowly. Most of us know this as the Hall of Faith portion of Scripture. We read of Abel’s faithful offering and Abraham’s faithful obedience. There is Moses and David and Samuel. We can read what faith looked like in their lives. There is one verse, however, that is often overlooked.
Before any mention of a specific individual’s faith, there is this.
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. – Hebrews 11:3
Faith, broken down into its most basic form, is the belief that God makes something out of nothing. He did it during creation and He does it today.
We come to Him broken and He creates beauty.
We come to Him empty and He fills us up.
We bring Him our hurts and He gives us hope.
Whatever you face. Wherever you are. Just have faith. God can still make something out of nothing.
He does it every day, doesn’t He? I love the Travis Cottrell rendition of “Just As I Am” with His additional lyrics . . .
I come broken to be mended.
I come wounded to be healed.
I come desperate to be rescued.
I come empty to be filled.
I come guilty to be pardoned
by the blood of Christ, the Lamb.
And I’m welcomed with open arms,
praise God, just as I am.
Just have faith. Indeed! Blessings on your day, Stacy. I’m enjoying your insights!
I adore Travis Cottrell! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment, Peg. I hope you have a fabulous day!
Stacy,
I really enjoy reading your writings. You are an extremely interesting and intelligent woman; I also like the way that you think. This entry came at a good time for me. I’m going through some interesting steps in my life what with attempting to let go of our oldest daughter going off to college next month! I guess that I just need to have a little more Faith…
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a religious person, Catholic, kids go to private (Catholic) school, attend church once or twice a week, etc. But… I just wonder why God lets us HURT so much sometimes. Haven’t quite got that one figured out yet and your post came at the perfect time.
Thanks so much and keep up the good work. I’ll be reading.
Shawn
Thank you so much for your kind words, Shawn! Just the thought of one of my girls going off to college stresses me out. I’m so thankful that, when we must let go, He is still holding on. Bless you during this time!
My favorite definition of faith? The opposite of sight. So true! If we can see what to do or how it will all work out, we don’t need faith.