Faith requires risk.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- so that no one
can boast.”- Eph 2:8
This past
month in Byron Bay, God revealed over and over to me how faithful He was, and
how faithful He will always be.
Faith is God
showing up at the last minute. It’s quite funny actually.
When we
worshipped despite a torrential downpour, God
was faithful (Grace like Rain part 2).
When we went
to town without a plan, God provided.
When we were
outsiders in a hippie town, conversations
arose.
When we were
running on fumes, God provided
supernatural rest (and hours more conversations).
When our plans
for future relationships with locals fell through, we were still sustained and
filled.
When we were
wronged or slandered, God provided
friendships, counsel, and prayer.
When we needed
to vent, He was there first.
When we
thought morning wouldn’t come, it did…
and the sunrise always took us by surprise.
Last month, He redeemed strengths individually.
Where we lacked in boldness, He pushed,
relentlessly. He pushed in our own hearts to show us more of His attributes. Faith is about obedience, not
success. Faith is always longing for more in the mysterious kingdom of
God. Faith is looking at the world as is for the first time.
I have been
told I am spiritually gifted in faith, something more than the belief in God,
but a “special ability to trust God and
fulfill His purpose.” Its like going out on a limb, making the jump,
hopping on the plane… (persay)… and knowing
God will show up. Whether it is last minute or not, He will show
up.
To me, faith
is just that: God showing up, despite myself.
“Freedom comes
in layers like an onion: one layer of freedom at a time. But it comes only to
the person who knows God and lives out his or her trusting obedience: the life
of faith.”
In other
words, through a life of trusting obedience and preserving patience, God’s
promised intentions will be fulfilled, and will be faithful in our eyes.
