That's What Faith Must Be

As my readers know I am a Christian. Sometimes I cringe at saying that because I know some of the preconceived notions that people have about Christians. Unfortunately some of those notions have proven true over the years. When I think of what it really means to be a Christian I am left with really only one answer. At its core, its very essence, Christianity is faith in the God of the Bible and His son Jesus Christ. The question then becomes "What is faith?"

Since this is a simple blog I can only answer simply. I'll leave the detailed explanations to the Theologians. For my part I will only answer from my experience.

Last year I blogged about my family and the joy we shared at the coming of a new baby. Children are always a blessing from the Lord. But in November we lost that baby. I blogged a bit about that too. It was a hard time. We looked forward to the baby with great anticipation. He was one of us; flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone. Though I never knew him I still loved him. Then he was gone. A relationship ended before it had begun.

And so I wondered at God. Why does He do things like that?

I never got an answer to that question. I didn't really expect to. He is God. I am not. That's just the way it is.

A year has passed now. I'm still asking the Lord some hard question. Since the time of the scenes laid before you in the above paragraph I have also lost a dear friend and brother unexpectedly. Now I find myself in a situation where my house is sold and I have no place to move my family. In short I find myself in an ever shifting landscape that I don't understand. It's a very unsettled place.

Even though I don't "get" what's going on I'm still walking with God. My beautiful wife of 14 years is again pregnant. What a blessing! And yet even in this pregnancy I am walking by faith. Faith in what? It's not a faith that the baby will thrive. It's not a faith that we will get a new house. It's not a faith that when I get through it all it will suddenly make sense to me. It's a faith that God is God and that He is Good. That's it. It's that simple.

As a final thought, please don't read into this that I am strong and brave. I am neither. I am asking God hard questions because my faith is weak and I struggle. Like the man in the Bible I cry out "I believe. Help my unbelief!". I'm walking in faith and believing that He knows what's best...because I don't.

UPDATE:  The buyer for our house found that they can't get financed after all.  That's the second deal that's fallen through for the same reason.  What's that mean for us?  Not much.  We're still unsettled and still waiting on the Lord.  Our faith is being tested once again.  Right now I can thank God that He is still working.