LIVING BY FAITH by Jodi Lorenz

Faith in the Storm

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

I first stumbled across this verse at a time when some might think I had all the faith in the world.  I had just completed a 30 year teaching career.  I was packing a house and moving across the country to begin my first call in ministry.  It was an exciting time.  It was also a time of great uncertainty, fear and doubts.  I was in the middle of this emotional storm when I picked up an old photograph of my grandmother. On the back of the photo was this verse from Hebrews.  In the picture my grandmother was in her early twenties and was finishing her college studies.  I wondered if she were alive and the two of us could visit, if she would understand the inner struggle I was going through.  Perhaps the picture was taken at time in her life when she was struggling as well.  I don’t know.

Let’s be honest, daily living is hard and the promises we read in the Bible about the kingdom of God seem unreasonable in today’s world.  Being a Jesus follower sets one up for insults, ridicule, and loneliness at times.  Our ancient brothers and sisters in Christ had it even worse.  They often were faced with torture, exile and execution because of their beliefs.  “Do not lose faith” is often preached from the pulpit, but in the pews we wonder if the pastor knows how hard it is to keep the faith.

Living by Faith

But what does living by faith really mean?  I have come to believe living by faith is not merely about beliefs I attempt to practice each day.  Living by faith is bigger and forces me to stretch my thoughts beyond this life on earth into an unseen, unknown, Godly existence.  It is about making important decisions in our busy, complicated and messy daily lives based on a much broader, far-reaching vision to an existence beyond our earthly life.  Living by faith is living in the now for what is to come.  Living with the assurance of things hoped for means we align our daily lives to the promises of God and not the pop culture whims of the day.  Living with the assurance of things hoped for means we adjust and correct our vision on the inheritance that God promises rather than settling for the cheap rewards of worldly goods.  Living by faith means that our earthly lives are just the beginning, that the best is yet to come.

Keep the Faith

I put my grandmother’s photo in a special place and quietly said a little pray thanking God and my grandmother for the love and wisdom they both give me.  Each day I get to choose to hold my head high and look beyond the day’s challenges and frustrations and some days I am really good at it.  Other days I get lost.  So, keep the faith as best you can and be assured of the things to come.