This I Believe

The word believe means “to accept as true or fact.” The concept of faith goes one step further as it is “a confident belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.” Both of these words involved a conscious decision to accept or reject. When people ask me what I believe, I always think about my faith.

Over the years my faith has become an inseparable part of me. Just like my eye color, somewhere along the course of my life my faith has become a distinguishing characteristic that defines the very woman I strive to be. On first blush, you might see me as a wife or a mom, perhaps a friend or a teacher. Lately I’ve been trying very hard to get people to see me as a writer. But what I need for you to really see is that I am a woman after God’s own heart at my very core. (I Samuel 13:14)

Explaining faith to people who don’t have it is just about impossible. It’s like showing a frustratingly inadequate photograph of an indescribable, awe-inspiring vision. You cannot appreciate the scope of faith’s majesty, unless you’re there to actually experience it for yourself.

My faith is uniquely personal. You cannot have your mother’s faith or your friend’s or even your church’s. Over the course of this life’s laughter, tears, tragedies and joys, my faith has become a unique representation of what blessings the Lord has given me and what sorrows the Lord has seen me through.

My faith is vibrantly alive. You’re not done until you’re in the box. I like to ask questions about stuff I don’t get and do extensive research about stuff that intrigues me. I am responsible for nourishing and tending this garden and I work hard at it.

My faith knows no limits. I believe that while God delights in my strengths, His greatest plans are for my weaknesses. It took a long time for me to understand that whenever I said, “I can’t” I was limiting God, not myself.

My faith is a trusting choice. It is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith makes an ordinary life extraordinary. Without God, I am a shy, introverted, insecure woman who feels that she's never pretty enough, smart enough, clever enough, or strong enough to be much good to anyone. But God doesn’t make mistakes. That has to mean that I’ve got everything I’m supposed to have in order to succeed according to God’s plan for me. Stunningly, I have the capacity to make God smile. How amazing is that?

In this I believe.

More importantly, in this I have faith.