How Real Is Your Faith in God?
Sunday, December 29, 2013
It’s a beautiful Sunday morning in Old Harbor, Jamaica. I just spent a wonderful Christmas with my sister and celebrated my Auntie’s 85th birthday. This morning, I woke up from a dream, realizing that there was an open door for me to enter, but it seemed like a fight to keep it open. The topic that came to me for this blog is: How real is your faith in God?
James 1:1-8
1 James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
YES, YES, WOW!!!!!!
I’ve had so many experiences that have tested my faith, it’s hard to know where to begin.
Just the other day, I got stuck in Montego Bay at the bus park. I was heading from the orphanage to Ocho Rios for the weekend and checked my bank account balance before leaving. By the time I got to the bank, the balance had changed because of fees and auto withdrawals (oh no, not now).
I told myself, “Sharon, don’t panic. Don’t draw attention to yourself.” So I went to a restaurant, sat down, and prayed. “Okay God, what am I to do now?” My friend Deon wasn’t answering her phone, and no one else was either. I asked God to multiply the money I had in my hand. Still, no one was calling me back.
By 6:30 pm, the restaurant was closing, and I still had no answers. I started walking with my heavy bags, thinking I’d go to a friend’s restaurant up the road and ask for money, but they weren’t answering their phone either.
Walking through the crowded town, I prayed, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” repeating it over and over. I was determined to keep a calm face. Suddenly, I ran into my neighbor from Westgate Hills. He had borrowed money from me before, and he gave me back $100 JA when I asked. Then, another young friend who had helped me at the orphanage saw me. He and his girlfriend blessed me with the balance I needed to travel to Ocho Rios. How great is our God!
Sometimes, we find ourselves in desperate situations, but remember that God is always with us. Keep the faith, trust Him with all your heart, and know that He will make a way out of no way.
There are so many more faith-walk experiences I could share, but I’ll save those for another time. As we enter the New Year, I hope this story encourages you to walk in the glory of God.
By Sharon Kerr