Last week, I wrote about having faith when you’re broken. Before continuing, I suggest you read the other post. I shared one line that this post will be about: “It is OK to be broken or scared–as long as we fight on and turn to the Lord and have faith.”
It’s been difficult for me to accept this truth. I’m struggling, and I know my family struggles, too, if not more so (my mom has Chronic Lyme disease. How can I struggle when she’s struggling soo much worse?) Tiny lies I used to believe as a kid have crept back onto me when I wasn’t expecting. So I had to stop and ask myself, “Why am I not OK? And shouldn’t I be OK?”
Let’s talk about when I said how it’s OK to be not OK. Seems a bit contradictory, doesn’t it? After all, the Bible tells us to have faith and be of good courage. But it’s OK to not be OK. It’s OK to struggle. It’s OK to feel lost. It’s OK to feel afraid.
Why?
Because Jesus.
Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. – Matthew 26:38-39
Like I mentioned in the previous post, Jesus wept. As the above Scripture adds, he was sorrowful before his death, asking God to pass the cup from Him. Therefore, it is not a sin for us to feel such things. It’s OK for us to feel such pain. In fact, it’s healthy. Let’s be honest–if you bottle your pain up, hide it, lie to yourself… It will only deteriorate your heart.
Notice how Jesus prayed as his heart was heavy. We must do the same. In order to surrender to the Lord and find faith, we must tell Him our fears (He knows them before we do) and give them up. We cannot move on in faith if we are clinging to fears. But giving up fear is not always easy. Sometimes, it is a journey. A painful one. But with God, all things are possible. So have faith when you kneel to pray to God about your fears. He doesn’t see you as less-than when you bear your heart like that.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. – Jeremiah 29:12
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. – James 5:13
So, we must have faith in God as we weep. We must not worry. Again, contradictory much? It isn’t. Here’s more Scriptures about having rest and peace in God, because while it is OK to not be OK, God calls us to have faith. Have faith through the pain.
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding. – Isaiah 40:28-31
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28
What about when we’re furious at Him? Or we’re questioning God with all our might, because we have little to no faith in His plan? God is big enough to take that. He will not strike us down or forsake us for our questions. But once we have our breakdown (and we may have many of them, even in close precision. We’re human), we must choose faith. Even trying to muster some faith in God will please Him.
One verse I found comforting is this, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Fear not. Those two words again! Let’s look at the latter part… It’s God pleasure to give us the kingdom. Wait. What? How can it be His pleasure when all human nature does is complain, struggle, fail, and sin? Let’s look at the verse before it, “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Luke 12:31-32) There it is! God does not require we be perfect, sinless, happy all the time, or ‘OK’. He finds joy in blessing us if we seek His Kingdom!
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:29-30
We can choose faith because our God is loving. He will not forsake us in our weakest hours, but give us rest. He will not curse us if we seek Him, but bless us. He will not forget us, but put a crown on our heads in heaven. He promises so many good things in His Word… And nothing can conquer Him. So have faith, even when this world hurts, even when you’re faith seems small (again, this post has some verses for when faith feels ‘small’!). He is the only thing that’s overcome this world.
Thank you for reading, and God bless you.
– Ang
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ANY VERSES THAT HELP YOU TO FIND FAITH?
Ooh! Great post!! So helpful for me!!
A verse I really love and one I’ve used in my third Bryder mystery book is Deuteronomy 33:27a. “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” I really really love that verse. I actually wrote a small post for NN about it. I think my first post.
Wow, what a great verse, Parker! =D The Old Testament has some really profound verses… really great stuff for creativity, too!
I know! Yes!!
This is a great post, Angela! We definitely need to have faith in God because He is here to guide and help us. Even if it’s not the way we except, He does something that is for our good and apart of His plan. A verse that helps me have faith in God is Proverbs 3:5. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” This verse reminds me to leave God in control of everything!
Amen, Heaven! That Scripture verse has helped me through so very much–what a great reminder! ♥