I am a follower of Christ. My beliefs dictate why I call myself so.
I believe that Christ is the center of the story of this world and the center of the story of my life. I believe that in Him I live, move and have my being. I believe that God is the giver of all truth, light and life. I sense His spirit and though I haven’t heart His voice audibly, I hear Him in my depths. Though I am blessed by family and community I believe in a belonging to my greater family and Father. I believe I am a child of God. I believe God is near, with us at all times. I believe God could take me, a sinner and not only restore me in His love, but use me to further His kingdom. I believe God’s authority is the only absolute victory over the darkness in this world.
I’ve been pondering the ever deepening belonging Christ offers His children. Universally, people hunger for the belonging of love—for intimacy, connection, security, warmth. We so often look in all the wrong places for our belonging. Christ offers pure love; unconditional lovingkindness that is infinitely deep and lasting eternally.
In college, one of my mentors gave me a small vile of mustard seeds attached to a necklace. It hangs from my rear-view mirror in my car as a daily reminder to not fear, but take courage in faith. She challenged me with the parable below:
‘And Jesus said, ‘What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the bird can perch in its shade’.” -Matthew 4:30-32
I’ve noticed in scripture how often Jesus speaks the words, “TAKE COURAGE, DON’T BE AFRAID”. He uses this phrase, and others like it so frequently. Maybe that’s because we need such frequent reminder. God wants turn our fears in love. Our darkness into light. Our brokenness into wholeness. Our needs into provision. God has constant authority over our hearts and life. In the gospels, we see how blind and deaf we can be to that truth through the life of the disciples. The closest students, brothers and comrades of Christ were both so obedient and so human. The revealing of His truth is a process—one that begins with faith. As we trust God, the lights flip on.
Last week, I bought my flights for training camp. As March has quickly come, I know the next five months will fly by. Launch in August will be here in a blink of an eye. As each day passes, I am growing more excited for launch day. I also recognize the measure of unknown I step into more each day. I am confronting real fears in that process. As I put my best foot forward to prepare spiritually, emotionally, relationally, financially, etc. I am more aware of how God has blessed my life. Glaringly, I also see how my need and depravity requires faith to fill the gap. This next season is so far beyond my effort. Without God’s grace or provision through community and His presence, the unknowns would overwhelm. But in the waiting, God gives me peace as I am challenged to trust Him to a greater degree.
In faith, God meets us with a measure of His love, authority and power. We are yet the children who serve the God that created this world, raises the dead, heals the blind and casts out evil spirits. He won our hearts; surely, He has the power to be our provision. In the unknown of life, there is always an invitation to trust and be loved. Faith is like a mustard seed.
