Friday, April 15, 2011

Walk In Faith

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
-- Romans 1:17 quoting Habakkuk 2:4b

I like a map when I travel. And a GPS. And a little experience from having been there before. It just makes the trip less stressful when I know where I'm going, how long it will take and exactly how it's all going to happen. Too bad life isn't like that.

Most of the time I am surrounded by darkness and struggling to keep my sight focused on the light in front of me. Temptations loom to the right and to the left. Satan knows all my buttons. I cling tightly to God's hand, trusting that He knows the way and won't let the enemy snatch me away.

Trust is hard for me. I've been betrayed too many times to look at anyone and immediately believe they're straightforward and true. I need proof that comes with time and experience. God has given me both. I marvel at His patience as He tugs me Home.

These days I walk strictly by faith. I get nervous and irritable. I want details and timelines and some sort of proof that all will turn out okay. Instead, I get a steady voice urging me to quiet myself and trust God. Follow the light. Believe. And I do. I just want to know the plan. Now.

I almost hear God laughing as I write this. Truthfully, it's probably better that I don't know. Because honestly there are some places God has led me that I really would never have gone had I known what lay ahead. Pain. Rejection. Shattered dreams. Nope. I wouldn't have traveled those roads if I'd known what I would encounter.

But the funny thing is that during all that stormy weather, I drew closer and closer to God. I learned to cling to Him in a way that I never had before. I came to depend on Him first and always. In many ways, He's the only One I trust anymore. I look to Him for guidance in all things. I know His wisdom comes from love and I trust that.

So I walk by faith, even when I cannot see the way and do not understand the plan. I walk toward the light, trusting that God has me clearly in His sight.