Walking by Faith

"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. And the life I live in this body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Walking by faith is a phrase that's easy for me to say but hard for me to live out. I hear it but I don't always get it. Maybe that's because it's faith and if I got it then it wouldn't be faith. (And by faith I type that hoping it makes sense to somebody!)

The first point last weekend was to choose the right object of faith. That's what really matters in walking by faith. Our faith is only as strong as the object of our faith. The description of faith in Habakkuk 2:4 is telling: "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith."

I think walking by faith is more than just believing the best or hoping for a positive outcome.

My greatest struggle in this faith thing is wanting to be in control. Big surprise - I like to know what's next. I do find that the older I get (and hopefully more mature in my faith) that it's easier to be out of control - maybe because the older I get the more I realize I can't control anyway.

I wish I knew the outcome of my dad's cancer battle - but I don't.
I wish I knew that my kids future will be positive and safe - but I don't.
I wish I knew a lot of things - but I don't.

I do still have faith - faith in a good God who has good things in store for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and will work in every situation for my good as I trust and have faith in Him (Romans 8:28). That doesn't mean it's all a smooth path ahead. That doesn't have anything to do with health and wealth teaching. It has everything to do with the character of God - the God who loves me and desires to make me more like Jesus. For that I have faith.