No Such Thing as "Blind Faith"

I think that one of the hardest parts about being an adult is change. I don't care if it's location, career, one extra kid, houses, friends, churches, hair dressers (that's a big one!), habits, or financial situations... change is difficult! When I was a full-time therapist, one of the hardest parts when working with people was helping them get over the "hump". You know, that hump that separates you from where you are, to where you know you should be. Change is super scary even when you know that what's on the other side of the "hump" is good for you. The problem is, we are familiar with what it's like where we are, even if uncomfortable, painful, stressful, or unhealthy.

I would have to say that one of my all time favorite books of the Bible is Deuteronomy. There is so much instruction for living and parenting in this amazing book. I constantly take the time to reread it and, without fail, I always learn something new that I didn't see the last time; the Bible is awesome that way.

The really great thing that Moses pointed out to the Israelites in Deuteronomy was that God went before them and with them, but they were scared and didn't trust God and His word (Deut. 1:32). One of the requirements for following Christ's plan for my life is that I trust Him, that I trust his love and His plan for me. So when struggling with change there are somethings required of us. We must remind ourselves of God's truth:

1. We must believe that He loves us and has a plan. The great thing about being a child of God is I know that He loves me and He has a "plan to prosper me, not to harm me" (Jeremiah 29:11). He loved me so much that He sent His only Son to take the punishment (Death) for my sins (John 3:16). God said, "Love one another as I have loved you, no one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12-13), and that is exaclty what He did for us!

2. He wants us to become more like HIm and have our mind set on the things that He thinks about (Colossians 3:1-25) and that is because He lives in us (believers in Jesus Christ) "...and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). He wants us to think on the things that He thinks about because that is the only way for us to know what His will is "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). There is no way for us to know His will if from the time we wake to the time we lay our head on our pillow, we live for us, never talking with Him, never hearing what He has to say through His word. Impossible!

In God's plan for our lives, He knows what is best for us. He knows us even better than we know ourselves:

Lord, You have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I stand up;

You understand my thoughts from far away.

You observe my travels and my rest;

You are aware of all my ways.

Before even a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.

You have encircled me; You have placed your hand on me.

This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.

It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence? ...

...For it was You who created my inward parts;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

Your works are wonderful, I know this very well.

My bones were not hidden from You

-when I was made in secret

-when I was formed in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw me when I was formless;

all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began...

Search me oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

See if there is an offensive way in me;

LEAD me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139: 1-7, 13-16, 23-24).

He has already laid out a plan that is the very best for us. The sad part is that we are selfish sinners, and the reality is, we will never actually live that plan to a tea. However, His ultimate plan is for us to know Him, become like Him, and bring glory and honor to Him. That we can do no matter how far we have strayed, if we turn (Repent), ask for forgiveness, and begin again.

One and Two are the very concepts that Moses was trying to remind the Israelites: that God has gone before them to prepare the way. He does that for us too. He doesn't give us some crazy, out of our comfort zone mission so He can enjoy a human sitcom. No, everything He does is for His glory and out of His love for us. He prepares the way. The problem is we often don't obey and trust Him so we never get to see the fruit and joy that comes from pure obedience and faith.

If you have ever gone repelling, that first step off the cliff can be paralizing. You stand there and you know you are hooked up correctly, you trust the man on the ground, you know the rope will hold, but none the less you are terrified to take the step. We know the truths mentioned above, yet we stay in our rutt because that first step of faith can seem paralizing. But here is what cannot be forgotten either: God doesn't just go before us, He goes with us!

3. Jus as God promised the Israelites that He would never leave or forsake them, we can be sure that is His promise to us (Deut. 31:6). Psalm 23 has forever been quoted when people are going through hard times, but I believe it applies to our life continually. God is not just with us when we are terrified or lonely or lose a loved one, He is with us always if we have the Holy Spirit within us. But this Psalm reminds us that:

- He guides us: "The Lord is my Shepherd", "He leads me along the right paths for His

name sake",

- He provides for us: "there is nothing I lack"

- He provides us rest and peace: "He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me

beside quiet waters"

- He protects us: "Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger for You are

with me"

-He comforts us: "Your rod and Your staff -- they comfort me"

-He goes before us: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies"

-He blesses us: "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows"

The promises that God gave the Israelites are no different than what he is doing for each one of us. Listen to these and know that God wants us to trust Him and have faith in His plan, regardless of how crazy or different it may be from the one we had in mind. I know this all too well.

"Don't be terrified or afraid...The Lord your God who goes before you will fight for you" (1:29-30)

"He went in the fire by night and the cloud by day to guide you on the road you were to travel" (1:33b)

There is really no such thing as "blind faith" when it come to being a believer in Jesus Christ and living your life for Him. Although God does not go before us in a "fire by night, and a cloud by day", He never "hides" His will from us, it is there, but usually it is our sin, fear, selfishness, and our lack of communication with Him that make it extremely hard to see.

Trust Him today, have faith in His plan, be in communication with Him, and let down your selfish desires. His plan, His way for your life is ALWAYS better than what we could ever ask or imagine.

#spiritualJournaling #journaling #faith #Godsplan