Beautful Faith: One Woman's Testimony of Grace

Last week’s post, “Faith: Just Do It,” was written to myself (!) regarding areas of struggle where I get stuck. Over and over I give in to myself; to sin. Over and over I whine and wait for a “Shazam!” moment from the Lord. The small child who stubbornly refused to obey the nursery worker was a picture to/of me when I refuse to turn from my way to God's in brokenness, with neediness and humility of heart.

One reader commented: “I tend to think of it more of as a matter of trust. Trust and faith are exercised in tandem. For me it is a matter of choice and choosing to trust that which my faith is grounded in and then stepping onto the unknown path the Lord has me walking on.”
 

 

Her comment carries a great deal of weight. Although she is a young mother, she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and instead of getting better, the reports get worse.  I asked if she would share because of the tender, peace-filled words that come across the page. She answered, “I don't want to be the focus, I want Christ and what He is doing to be the focus :).” Below is her testimony of how God is revealing Himself during this time, for His glory.

She wrote:

I want you to know the Lord is amazing and he is growing me much in this area. I knew I had faith, I knew I wanted to obey, but without trusting in the promises he has given us you can't move when the storms come. I don't know where this journey will lead me, I don't know the path it will take, but what I do know is the more I place my trust in Him, my faith gets stronger and the ability to be obedient where fear, doubt and worry play are so much easier. The more I trust the easier each of these areas becomes. I have no fear, nor worries. I know I am being used by the Lord and my greatest pleasure is knowing that He will use this for His glory.

When I first was told that I had cancer, it was a shock because I had been told that the chance was very small, like only a 10 percent chance for several different reasons…  I knew in that moment I had a choice to make. I had to make a willful choice to trust in the Lord. Despite all odds tests kept coming back worse than anticipated, I chose to trust that because if the odds were against what was happening then that meant this had to be the Lord's will and therefore part of a larger plan. As I prayed and held on to the promises the Lord has given us and choosing to trust those things, I have grown to a different kind of obedience.

I think most of us get wrapped up in the obedience of works/actions (I don't think it is wrong but it is not the only way we are called to obedience) that we forget we have been called to be obedient in our emotional responses. This is where the Lord is working on me: Patience, fear, worry, doubt, stress, discontent. These are not God given and they drive a wedge, if we allow it, in our relationship with Christ. I made a choice to try as hard as I could to turn my back on these things and hold on to Christ as an anchor. What I have discovered and learned is that as I purposefully try to obey God in this way my faith has grown exponentially, I find it easier to trust in His word and consequently it is easier to obey. But for me it had to start with choosing to trust the promises he has given.

We get wrapped up in obedience and faith that we forget sometimes that we simply need to trust in the Lord and His promises. We forget to trust that the Lord is in control of all things and simply rest in Him. By the Word of God He does expect us to trust:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you. Proverbs 22:17-19

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

You who fear him, trust in the Lord—he is their help and shield. Psalm 115:11

 

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. Jeremiah 17:7

 ... that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:12

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.  1 Timothy 4:10  

 

In thinking through our inner motivation for obedience (love and trust--which pleases God or fear and a desire to escape punishment--which does not), may we offer our thoughts, attitudes, emotions and actions to Him in prayer first and foremost. He is the great Healer, the Sustainer, the Giver of all good things. He wants us to be at peace, to experience satisfaction and hope regardless of our circumstances.

As the Lord allows, please remember this dear sister and her family in your prayers.