As mentioned in the previous posts, I may be taking an indeterminate break from blogging, but before I do, I want to share this:

“Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

The life of faith, properly understood within the Christian framework, is not an easy path. It becomes more difficult when it is misunderstood. There are some, both within and outside the Church, who appear to believe that Christians have a faith in faith. I think that, for some, faith is inferred as being a kind of invisible force to wield and be directed until circumstances yield to the force of faith. If one has enough faith, if one simply believes strongly enough, circumstances will change for the better. If the circumstances do not change, the inference is that the fault lies in ones lack of faith. However, I assert that faith, in the context of being a disciple of Christ, is better understood as trust.

Contrary to what may be an Average Joe understanding of faith, one can validate with reasonable certainty that Christ is who He and His followers claim Him to be. I can validate with as much certainty the physical resurrection of Christ as I can any other event in recent, and not so recent, history. A blind leap of faith is not required. However, if Christ is who He and His followers claim Him to be, if the resurrection event occurred in time and space, then I must do something with this knowledge; I must assert that He is more than worthy of my trust, that He is more than worthy of absolute lordship over my life. In Him I place, with great humility, my faith, my trust. I learn, as I grow, often slowly and with great difficulty, in spiritual maturity, to keep my eyes on Him, not my circumstances.

How, then, is this life of faith, properly understood, to be lived in light of circumstances difficult and tragic? One asserts the fidelity of our Abba Father over the news of test results indicating a malignancy. One asserts the love of our Savior for His children when our child strays to alcoholism or addiction to drugs. One asserts the compassion of Christ when we suddenly find ourselves, after years of faithful service to our employer, without a job. We build on a strong foundation so that what is built upon the foundation weathers travail. What is built upon the foundation will be battered, but it will not break; it will prevail. We build upon Christ His sovereignty over all. We find in Christ, not our circumstances, our all-in-all, our sufficiency, and our redemption.

How absolutely absurd our lack of trust in our Father must appear to Him. He who spoke matter, energy, and time into existence ex nihilo, from nothing, finds those whom He has created and adopted as His own calling His fidelity into question when we worry in the same fashion as those outside His church over our circumstances over which He has absolute control .

Romans 5:3

“And not only that but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces patience”

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.