It’s been a tradition for several years (4 years to be exact) to pick a word that I will practice and put into action in the coming year. The words I’ve chosen over the years have served as my ultimate goal for the new year. The end of 2015 I was certain I had chosen my word. But wanted to pray about where the Lord – might be leading my heart to learn this year. However, the word FAITH kept popping up in my mind. I was seeing it over and over again in my Bible reading. But I just kept pushing it out of my mind. I tried to convince myself another word would suit my little heart better. I mean it was quite the year, maybe I need a break? Though as the days progressed in the new year, I still was saying no to FAITH.
You see, FAITH is just plain scary.
FAITH is hard.
FAITH makes us weak.
FAITH limits us.
FAITH means letting go.
FAITH is setting oneself up for so many unknowns.
FAITH is not what we plan.
FAITH means trusting in the Lord, completely. F o r e v e r y t h i n g.
FAITH entails taking less traveled roads – without knowing where they will lead.
FAITH costs you everything.
FAITH makes you look crazy.
FAITH means needing.
FAITH makes us feel out of place.
FAITH is impossible.
So the very reason, I’m so late in choosing my one word for 2016 is for the very fact that I didn’t want to choose it. I didn’t want this word. (Jonah kept coming to mind.) And then I kept looking back on the year 2015.
My husband and I took one of the biggest jumps of Faith we’ve ever taken in our lives. Totally stepping out of our comfort zones and took the biggest leap into the unknown. Before we began our adoption journey in 2014, we were saying, “yes we’re trusting you LORD.” Yet, in reality we were still hanging on to the the end of the rope. God, at times let our heads go under the raging seas, but always brought us back up to breathe. And it was during those “drowning moments” when He pulled us through. It was when we were stripped away of any other life preserve – that we could truly TRUST HIM. And it was in those “raging sea moments” when we looked to HIM only. And it was the biggest growing experience of our entire lives.
So, yes we stepped out in FAITH in ways we never have in our entire life last year (including starting a second adoption!) And the reason I haven’t wanted to choose to walk this FAITH road again – was the very fact, 2015 was HARD. I cried A LOT. I FELT ALONE, yet was never alone, Our marriage felt STRAINED. Our finances were DRAINED. I was never more EXHAUSTED in my entire life. I was WORN. And RAGGED. I was being PRUNED, PLUCKED, and MOLDED. I was being REFINED. I don’t like the refining process.
BUT OH, I AM EVER…..
GRATEFUL.
THANKFUL.
And oh so very…..
B L E S S E D.
And so that’s the very reason why, I C H O O S E F A I T H.
Because yes, FAITH is scary.
But it’s also an exciting rush.
FAITH is hard.
But it’s worth all the tears and sweat.
FAITH makes us weak.
And when we are weak – He is STRONG.
FAITH limits us.
But God equips us, with exactly what we need, at the right time.
FAITH means letting go.
And gaining more then what you gave up.
FAITH is setting ourselves up for so many unknowns.
And the surprises are bittersweet and beautiful all at once.
FAITH is not what we plan.
And we realize GOD orchestrates the most loveliest stories no author could dream up, or pen.
FAITH means trusting in the Lord, completely. F o r e v e r y t h i n g.
And the blessings that comes with – relying on the one who gives you breath, gives us no need for worry or fear.
FAITH entails taking less traveled roads – without knowing where they lead.
And though the roads may be rough, they lead to beautiful places. New people, new ideas, exciting adventures, and He sets you up in the most ideal situations to share His love because of it. He makes the journey well worth it.
FAITH costs you everything.
Yet you GAIN more than you what you put into it.
FAITH makes you look crazy.
But aren’t we crazy to the world already? 😉 It just confirms “our talk” when we actually “walk the talk”.
FAITH means needing.
And needing JESUS shows us and others, we can do nothing on our own. It’s ALL HIM.
FAITH makes us feel out of place.
But it also brings us to a place where we belong. The arms of JESUS.
FAITH is impossible.
But with GOD it’s possible.
But without FAITH it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6
Leave a Reply