Trials abound in every situation God brings you through. If there weren’t trials before me, I would question whether I was following God whole-heartedly. This year is bound to be full of trials, but it is in the perseverance through those hard times that produces growth and stronger faith.
One of my prayers and deepest cries to God in the past several months has been one asking, “God, more faith, I need more faith!” Faith enough step out in boldness to share what He has placed on my heart, faith enough to believe and pray for the miraculous and to expect signs and wonders because that is what He promises in His Word when we call on His name. I read books like
Always Enough (Rolland & Heidi Baker),
Heavenly Man (Brother Yun) and my heart breaks that I’m not more broken before God and I long for the faith that sees people healed and raised from the dead in the name of Jesus Christ.
Do I fear being too radical, too consumed by Christ that I miss out on this life I so easily call my own? That thought has crossed my mind, but even more I fear missing the life that Christ has called me to. The life and purpose He has for me here and now that guarantees my inheritance for the life I will be living with Him for eternity. If when Paul says in Galatians 2:20 is true, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”, then my life is not my own, it was bought with a price that I can never repay (and I’m not expected to!). Living means being Christ and dying means being with Christ (Philippians 1:21) … can it really be that simple?
Looking ahead to the future God has for me is rarely crystal clear and the directions God pulls my heart sometimes stretch me at the seams. I know my life is in His hands, I feel safe there, but I also know that this life before me will require faith, much more faith.
