Faith, Yeah You Got It

             Everyone has faith. It is the principal drive for any action. One wouldn’t do anything if he or she didn’t have assurance that it would reap the promised results. No one would go to the movies. (The couple have faith that Mary Poppins will in fact show up on the screen after they have paid and sat themselves down. Immaterial that Emily Blunt is no Julie Andrews, they still had faith that the desired result would follow their action. Go to movies —>pay—> seat —> watch film). Without faith, no one would buy popcorn at the movies. Can you imagine your date saying “Yo! Lets get us some popcorn yumminess and overpriced nacho grub.” and you reply “No, they don’t have that.” Huh?  He would say “Honey Bunny, the sign says they have the grub and I’ve been here a hundred times before and got the extra-big-jumbo-refill-butter-explosion-not-your-mom’s-popcorn meal. It works. I promise. Let’s stand in line and get some yummies.” He had faith that his popcorn treat would be provided and prompted his date, Darla Doubting to try it out.

            Does this make sense? Faith is usually used in a religious context (and I’ll get there, one second) but EVERY ONE has faith or NO ONE would do ANYTHING. Flip on the light switch because you have faith the light will immediately turn on. Before you do that you TECHNIQUELY don’t KNOW the light will turn on because it hasn’t happened yet, right? Wrong. (Most of the time). You have done it a thousand gazillion times before and it’s worked so it’s a no-brainer that the desired consequence (ME HUNGEE ME NEED LIGHT TO COOK MIDNIGHT SNACKIE) is brought about by the preliminary action: flip light on.

             Faith is in every action. Faith your car will take you somewhere, if you didn’t have faith you wouldn’t have bought the car. Faith your business will succeed, if you didn’t have faith you wouldn’t have started it. Faith you can get craycray swole at the gym or lose weight, because of that faith you dutifully pump da iron. WHATEVER anyone’s goals are, faith is the root action that begins every other action.

             OKAY. Now that that is established (is this interesting or enlightening at all? Because for me this is fascinating and a blast to explore.) What is Faith IN CHRIST? Why is that the most powerful thing in the whole wide world? Why should we seek it? Or more specifically, seek Him through faith? To me, faith in Christ means making Him a part of all my goals. Counseling with Him and aligning my life so it is pleasing to Him. Keep in mind, He loves us with an inexplicable, consuming, eternal love and gave everything He is so I, and you, can be happy. Having faith in Him means that He knows what will bring the most long-term happiness. That knowledge impels me to follow Him. He promises peace? Joy? Fullness? Wholeness? The companionship of His sweet Spirit that comforts, guides, protects, inspires? And those are just promises in this life let alone the promises He gives us in the life to come: being with our families again forever, free from pain, guilt, all tears wiped away, and an infinitude more.

            Just as you have walked outside and seen the sunrise a million times and you can say, because of your own experience with the dawn, “It will rise tomorrow. I know it will. I have used my own faith to walk outside and watch it every morning. So now I know it will rise tomorrow.” Because I have listened and tried my best to obey God (literally stinking at it and falling off and trying again and again and again but still getting up.) I know He is there. I know He is reliable, more reliable than movie theaters, popcorn makers, light switches, and even sunrises. I know He speaks. I know His voice. I know He is good and kind and powerful and a real Being full of peace and love who has a real Son named Jesus Christ who really walked this earth and died and really rose again. I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that He can give each person a witness of spiritual truths. We CAN *know* of things we cannot see by the individual *process* of faith-based action. I know the dawn comes, because I’ve waited (and waded) through nights. I know warmth comes because I waited (and waded) through winters. I know friends come because I’ve waited (and waded) through loneliness and isolation. I know Jesus Christ is the source of Light in this world because I’ve called to Him in darkness. I know Jesus Christ is the LIFE of the world because I’ve called to Him in deadness. I know Jesus Christ is Bread and Water because I’ve called to Him in excruciating hunger when all other sources left me sad, empty, or imprisoned. And He came. He is my Sheppard. I am so proud to call Him Friend and Master and invite every faith-filled person (that’s you! Remember? You have faith!) to direct or redirect your energy, thoughts, and time to seeking Jesus Christ. I know that faith in Christ moves mountains. Mountains around us and mountains of sadness, sin, or pain within us. I know this for myself because I have experienced it and share my own witness of Jesus Christ in His name. Amen! Love you all so much! Happiest of Sundays. –Rachael