A JOURNEY OF GROWTH

A text from my youngest son, who is away at college, said, “What are you up to?”  I knew this wasn’t a good sign, as it was a few hours after he was to attend a meeting.  I phoned him right away, taking a deep breath first.

The first words out of his mouth were,

 

I replied honestly, “Well, usually strong until something “big” seems to come along.  Then it seems like my faith can be easily shaken or weakened.”

During the quick ten-minute conversation with my son, he ended up encouraging my faith with his outlook.  His attitude about the situation exemplified one of faith, knowing that whatever way God worked things out, he would make the best of it.  Yes, my son was trusting in God’s sovereign will.

I was heading to church, and he said that was the best place I could be. I agreed.  As only God can do, on my way in, I ran into my Pastor, an encounter that never happened before.  Since he asked how I was, I shared my concern about my son and how a few times in my life, when a major crisis arose, I felt like my faith vanished.  His reply was,

 

 

That simple encounter and statement was a great encouragement, which made me dig into my soul to find that faith–to believe I could have more faith and trust in God. It was an added blessing to share a little more with my Pastor later. It touched me when he said, “I will be praying for your son.”

Throughout the next week and a half, I kept thinking about the question my son first asked me on the phone call,

 

 

God got my attention when I read this version of a familiar story:

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”  –Luke 8:22-25  (NIV)

 

The question Jesus asked his disciples,

 

reminded me of my son’s question.  This story encouraged me as I reread it several times in the days ahead.

The disciples, who spent so much time with Jesus, still had fear and doubts just as we so often do!  How often does fear take the place of faith?

 

The way this situation played out in my life reminded me of the importance of…

…the role others play in our faith

Talking with my Pastor for two minutes encouraged me to dig deeper in my faith as well as knowing he was praying too.  Having prayer warriors praying for you through the tough times is a great comfort.

 

…putting in alone time with the Lord

Seeking the Lord and His will, and finding that particular passage, helped me come to the point of acceptance no matter the outcome.  The more time we spend with God, the more we encounter His presence.

 

…remembering and knowing Jesus is with us working everything out

Reading scripture and praying continually, even praising the Lord through the storms, are ways we come to know that Jesus is always with us. Even when things don’t go the way WE think they should, Jesus is still working everything out.

 

God was gracious.  After a second meeting, along with a week and a half of waiting, everything turned out favorably for my son, with the best possible outcome.  We were so grateful and pleasantly surprised.

 

This journey was another stepping-stone of growing in trust and faith for me, leaning into God, and knowing His plan is best.

 

Photo courtesy of listentothemountains under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

 

As you go about life this week…

Never underestimate the impact the simplest of encounters and statements can have in our lives~

Keep growing in trust and faith, knowing God provides what we need when we need it~

What a precious gift it is to be Christ for others in their time of need~

 

We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith.  –Romans 14:19  (CEV)