Riddle me this: What do Jesus, French Montana and the Bible have in common? All will be revealed by the end of this post.
I really wanted the title to read “Got milk faith?” (you know like those extremely awkward adverts where celebrities pose with milk on their faces) but alas WordPress have not provided that option and so I have to settle with “Got Faith?”. I believe strongly that if there is no sharing of experiences and testimonies then there is no genuine fellowship. Where genuine fellowship exists, love exists and so this is my love letter. Here is my fifth “Jesus Piece”. I hope someone is blessed x
I had no faith
Faith characterises the Christian journey (at least it should) and there is no other way to please God than through faith as Hebrew 11:6 highlights. So when I tell you that my faith reached its lowest point this year, I’m saying that I wasn’t pleasing God neither was I living out my Christianity.Anxiety much like a raging storm, was throwing my confidence around, slamming me against every wall and laughing at me when I was down. Everyday, fear would beat me down but my wounds were internal making it easier to wear a smile, attend church services and engage in everyday life. However when no one was around, anxiety like a raging storm would fling me around and break me. I was broken and yet I was still placing pressure on myself to fulfil tasks that I had set myself. I was no longer running on faith but on desperation, something I had never experienced before. I was working on overload, chasing after this much needed validation (this is what I told myself) forgetting that faith (in Christ Jesus) is the only thing that validates. I did not even possess the faith of a mustard seed to move mountains.I could barely move pebbles.
I was not pleasing God
I couldn’t even please myself, let alone God. Life was giving me lemons and I was still drinking water because my focus had shift but then something changed. Eureka moments are something to cherish and I am so grateful for mine. I cannot remember exactly when that light bulb turned on in my mind but I know that Matthew 6:25 became my saving grace.
Do Not Worry
25 “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 than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 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?27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I read that passage almost everyday now as I reminder that God cares about my needs but at the time I was behaving like one who didn’t know God. I believed in God but did not believe in his power and because hindsight is a beautiful thing I can now say that losing my faith to fear was not worth it. Fear is the antithesis of faith and where faith morphs you into a warrior, fear cripples you until you become a victim of your own thoughts. Faith is perfect because it frees your mind.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30
There is no need to worry about tomorrow “for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Faith is like that chauffeur that carries you around and tells you to relax (but keep your seatbelt on) as he navigates. You don’t know where he is going (because he likes to surprise you) but you know you will get there and it will be wonderful.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Christianity is not a crystal ball that you shake and then find out what your life will look like in five years, if that were the case then we would not have to be dependent on God and it would make sense to lean on our own understanding. If that were the case then Phillippians 4:13 would have no relevance, however God remains relevant and FAITHFUL.
I once compared faith to insanity (you are probably thinking did this girl really just write this) and I stand by the comparison because it is unnatural to believe in things that we do not see, it goes against our rational thinking. However, God is supernatural and defies our thinking. We do not have to know the whys and the hows but we need to exhibit a faith similar to the centurion, the leper, the paralysed man and the woman with the haemorrhage.
Faith moves mountains. Fear shatters confidence.
Love Cris x
Faith is peace.
p.s like French Montana said in that hip hop song we love to recite, “I aint worried bout nothing.”