There have been so many difficulties as of late. My friends and family have expressed various trial and tumultuous times here lately that have led them to doubt if God still sees them. They have relayed to me their hurts, worries, and fears. And here I am thinking that I am the only one to doubt sometimes. I thought that there was something wrong with me, especially when I would think about my current health conditions. In my prayers, I would ask God, “Where are You?” and “What did I do?”
However, as I was going through these questions in my heart, there were others around me feeling the same way, questioning whether or not they had done something wrong or if they have offended God in some way. Some of the people I am mentioning here are very devout, much more devout than I am for sure. And what I have found out from God is that these areas where we are pushed and pulled – and ultimately stretched – are for the strengthening of our faith. And He has not left us or been offended by us. He loves us.
Just think about it. An analogy here could be that we equate faith to a coat. Some have big, nice warm coats, and some have kind of a flimsy coat. But it is still a coat nonetheless that helps protect against the elements. Right? Well, the weather kind of dictates how tightly we hold on to that coat. If it is a nice, sunny day, everything is kinda going well around us. So we don’t hold on to our coats very well, but we still have one. However, on those cold, blustery days where the wind is coming at us from all directions and the storm clouds are growing darker and darker as the temperature dips further and further down in number, that is when we grab hold of that coat pulling it tightly around us and zipping it up (or buttoning the buttons). And we also realize in that moment just how feeble some of our coats really are for weather like this. So we layer up when we get the chance, or we get a better coat and never leave home without it.
"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one." - Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)
This coat analogy may not be a complete picture, but it is helpful for me to think of faith a bit in this way sometimes. When I was a kid, I would tell my mom, “I don’t need a coat. It’s not that cold out.” And she would toss my coat toward me and say, ” You’re gonna need it. At least put it in your backpack before you go.” When I didn’t have that coat on that cold, windy morning at the bus stop, I didn’t want to admit that I needed it, but when my chilliness outweighed my pride, I put it on and was glad that she sent me to school with it anyway. I learned then that I should probably do as she says more often. She is my mom after all.
Just as my mom told me that I should have my coat with me, God, our Heavenly Father, knows what your circumstances will be like in life. And just as a coat provides some protection from the elements of weather, so, too, does faith provide some protection from the elements of life. God knows the end from the beginning. He knows what is coming up for us, and He wants for us to be prepared. Again, this is just a really simple analogy to a topic that exceeds my understanding. But I understand it more this way than piles of books and lengthy podcasts can explain to me.
Gotta fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 