Faith

Faith is having the confidence to place our hope where we are assured that something good awaits us. Can we misplace our faith? I know that sometimes I have.

Quite a few years ago, when our oldest son was a teenager, he started down a path contrary to the one we’d hoped for him to travel. It was painful to watch him make the choices he made. Our hearts grieved. Yet, no matter what we said or did, he set his mind on doing what he wanted to do.  

Of course I pleaded with God to somehow intervene, to change our son’s mind and bring him to his senses. Then, I waited and watched for change to take place in our rebellious son. But nothing changed. 

Instead, life got worse for all of us. Every time I thought something good might be take place, my son’s attitude and actions proved me wrong. It was an emotionally tumultuous time in my life. I could not understand where I’d gone wrong as a mom, why my son felt the need to head off in the direction he’d chosen to go, and why God was ignoring the desire of my heart.

I was terribly disappointed with God as well as with my son. 

It took a few years, but one day, I finally came to my senses. Somehow God brought to my attention how I’d placed my faith on the wrong person; my son. I’d waited, watched and expected something good to come from him only to be discouraged, dismayed, and distressed. It was time to put my faith in the right person; the person of God. 

Did things change? For me they did. Placing my faith in God day in and day out and moment by moment, God brought truths to my mind: Cast all you cares on Me because I care for you, don’t be worried or anxious about anything, fear not, with Me, all things are possible. 

Placing my faith in the right person produced a hope that was no longer attached to what my son did or did not do. Instead my faith now produced an assurance that no matter what, God always cares for me and God always cares about me and that is good. 

Why Bother?

Why bother knowing where to place our faith? When we place our faith in another person, we will surely be disappointed. But, placing our faith in and on God, we are assured that something good awaits us.

P.S.  I wrote the story of my journey to forgiveness for those who, like me, know they need to change, but are not quite sure where to start. You can find A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.