Sometimes when faith is running low
and we cannot understand why things are so, we should walk alone among
the flowers that grow and learn the answers to all we would know.
For
among God's flowers we would come to see life's miracles and its
mystery. And standing there in silence and reverie, our faith would be
renewed to us. Here's an article about the importance of faith inspired
by the writings
of Keith Phillips.
Have you ever
noticed how some people can stay afloat when engulfed in troubles and
hardships, while others sink to the bottom? What sets the
swimmers apart
from the sinkers?
From what I've seen, the biggest factor seems to be
faith in God's love. When those who understand how much God
loves them
find themselves in over their heads, they know
He won't let them drown.
So, unlike those who don't have such faith, they don't wear themselves
out struggling just to keep their heads above water—or worse, panic and
go down all the quicker. Buoyed
by their faith, the swimmers can
concentrate their energy on getting to solid ground.
If you feel more
like a sinker than a swimmer, you can get ready for the next
sink-or-swim situation by strengthening your faith in God's love. The
scope and depth of that love are beyond our comprehension, but the Bible
likens it to the love of a father for his children. "
He is like a father
to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence Him" (Psalm 103:13 TLB). God doesn't enjoy seeing you in trouble. He isn't trying to make
life hard for you. He is on your side and wants nothing more than to see
you happy and fulfilled.
That doesn't mean He will never let you have
problems, but when you find yourself in over your head, you can be sure
He will be there for you. In fact, there is a verse in the Bible in
which He promises that very thing: "When you pass through the waters, I
will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you"
(Isaiah 43:2).
The first step in learning to swim is
learning to float, and that starts with learning to relax and not fight
the water. Put yourself in God's hands, lie back, relax, and let Him
support you. Practice in the shallows, and you will be ready for
whatever the future may hold.
By Tim Pedrosa
Always
concentrate on how far you have come, rather than how far you
have left to go. The difference in how easy it seems will amaze
you.---Heidi Johnson |