The theme I’m reading about currently is faith.  Today is the trial of our faith and the verse in the Bible where Jesus says, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed . . . nothing will be impossible for you.”  (Matthew 17:20)  The disciples had run into a problem with a demon possessed boy and they couldn’t heal him–that is a serious trial, especially when it comes with a rebuke from Jesus, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?  Bring him here to Me . . . . But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

At first our walk with God may be all roses and rainbows but then God says, I want a deeper relationship with you then just externals, and the only way to get deeper is to let it rain great big drops on our little faith.  This is where we external dwellers struggle and where we get mad at God and accuse Him of not caring anymore–when in reality these times are wonderful opportunities to really go/grow deep with God.  This quote today is heartbreaking in its implications and what I believe Jesus is talking about when he calls the disciples an “unbelieving, perverted generation.”

Faith by its very nature must be tested and tried.  And the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God’s character must be proven as trustworthy in our own minds. . . Faith, as the Bible teaches it, is faith in God coming against everything that contradicts Him–a faith that says, . . . “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15)  —Oswald Chambers

Faith is not a flippant thing, nor is for the fainthearted–some today say it is for “weaklings”.  I beg to differ–faith is the hardest thing I do and requires the greatest discipline, and yes, at times I’ve called God’s character and wisdom to question.  It goes against the core of my being to believe in something not seen, yet that is what I’m called to.  So when trials come I choose to embrace them as a mustard seed would–opportunities for growth and a deeper relationship (prayer and fasting if you will) with God.  This is what I wrote on the back of my doodle last year–

Sometimes we forget to look at the rain in our lives in a good way–how often, on a warm sunny day, do you say, “Today’s a good day to sit by the fire, curl up with a good book and relax.”? Think of your rain as an opportunity to sit by the fire of God’s love, depend on His good book to get you through and let Him make you feel cozy, wrapped in His arms–oh, and don’t forget to drink in the life-giving warmth of the Holy Spirit–it’s all good, relax and grow.