A Leap of Faith
A Leap of Faith
What exactly is faith anyway?
Often today we throw around sayings like “just have faith,” “let faith be bigger than your fears,” or “just believe and everything will be fine.” Is faith some kind of mystical feeling that we can conjure up in huge portions so that it will overcome whatever obstacle is in our path?
Your Grandpa Henderson and me c. 1969. |
If that is the case, some may ask why things do not always turn out fine? Why do I still sometimes experience the icy grip of terror squeeze my heart when the unexpected happens? What exactly is faith and where do I get it??!? The answer is found in a person, not in an elusive feeling.
Friday nights were always exciting for me growing up. It was the start of the weekend, of course, but also because every Friday night, my family would drive to a local elementary school in North Arlington, New Jersey, where we would attend Bible Club. For one hour I would sit enthralled singing songs, participating in quizzes, learning Bible verses, and listening to a Bible story.
One week when I was about four years old Grandpa asked me if I would like to be part of the lesson. He blindfolded me and stood me up on a table. In front of all the other children, he asked me to jump from the table, promising to catch me. At that moment I did not muster up all the positive sentiments I could find deep within myself. I didn’t tell myself to let that feeling be bigger than my fears of falling. I just jumped!
I jumped because I trusted that my dad would not let me fall. I knew him well enough and believed that he would catch me like he said he would. My faith was not focused on the outcome, it was focused on my dad.
True faith is confidence in the fact that God is Who He says He is.
True faith rests in God’s words, knowing that He will do what He says He will do and that He will reveal Himself to those who seek Him.
True faith says “It is enough that God said it, and if the statement should contradict every one of the five senses and all the conclusions of logic as well . . . [I will still believe].” (AW Tozer)
True faith hangs onto a loving and faithful God, even if everything doesn’t seem to turn out the way the world says it should – it is believing that God’s ways are always loving and faithful.
True faith rests confidently in a person and not a feeling!
Later that night when Grandpa was putting me to bed I decided to put my faith for my whole life in the person of Jesus and His death and resurrection as payment for my sins. I asked Him to forgive me and make me fit for heaven.
For 44 years now I have rested in His promise that by believing and receiving Jesus Christ as my Savior He would make me a child of God – the child of a perfect heavenly Father to be trusted above and beyond even the best earthly father (John 1:12).
Love,
Mama