Today I wrap up my 40 days of posts on the perspectives that I am learning about through pain. I cannot think of a more fitting day to share this last post than on Easter Sunday. A day that reminded the world… no matter how dark it looked yesterday- it crucial to have faith in tomorrow.
Today is a symbolic day… it is a day of rejoicing that Jesus is alive and still at work in my circumstances as well as yours.
It is because of what Jesus did on that amazing first Easter morning by conquering the grave and death to rise again… that I have faith not only in him but his ability to help me conquer our circumstances.
It is because of the hope that Easter represents that I face each new day with faith and not fear– because I know who is in control of each day.
It is because of the promise of Easter that I know that our suffering on this Earth is short lived compared to the heavenly victory that I have faith that I inherit as a daughter of the Risen Lord.
One of the many, many perspectives that I have developed through this journey has been the importance of understanding what faith really is. So many people say that they have faith… but having faith is not enough- you must live out your faith on a daily basis.
Real faith is not just something you say it is something that saturates your every thought, action, and motivation. Faith is steady and strong… it is not dependent on the circumstances that we find ourselves in.
It is our faith that saves us but it is our actions that testify to the world the depth of our commitment to Christ. There is no time in our lives that our testimony speaks louder than when we are going through difficult circumstances. It was easy for me to claim faith on the easy days… it is harder to walk out faith on the challenging days.
I am making it through our struggle by focusing on one day at a time. I get through each new day by the strength and power that I draw from my faith. I have found that while my life has been turned inside out and upside down… God has been constant and steady. He remains unchanged by the life altering changes around me— He is the only thing consistent enough to put faith in.
I faced many choices during the first few days of our struggles… the most important of which was deciding if I was going to let fear or faith motivate me and control me as we went through this time. I chose to walk forward in faith and realized that I do not have to be in control or know what will happen at the end… all that I have to do is take one step at a time in sync with Jesus.
As I close this chapter of my blog, I can think of no better conclusion than this challenge to myself and anyone else who may ever read these words:
I know that life is hard and sometimes it knocks you to your knees in anger, frustration, and grief. There is nothing better for you to do when you are down than cry out to God and ask him to help you rise again. It doesn’t matter if it is the first time or five thousandth time that you have called on him… he will be faithful to answer when you call. His answers do not always look like the ones that we are expecting so it is critical that you pay close attention and prayerfully develop the ability to change your perspective on your problems. God loves you no matter who you are or what you have done… he has faith in you— the question is do you have faith in him?
There is no better place to put your trust, hope, faith, and love in than a relationship with Jesus Christ and there is no better time to start that walk or get back on his path than today. A faith walk with Jesus is a lifetime commitment and a choice to seek his ways over yours. It is a walk that must begin with a single step… a step towards Jesus.
The greatest perspective that I have found in this project is this: When you are searching for understanding and direction— the best place to begin is always the foot of the cross. Any journey started from there will end in success.
Someone who I have never had the privilege of meeting (yet) but has been following our problems through these posts each day sent me a link to today’s song. As I listened to the words of it I could think of no better song to close these posts out on. It is a wonderful reminder that we put our faith in the words that he said to us— and he has ALWAYS been faithful to kept his word.
Thank you for taking this 40 post journey with me and my family. As I shared on day 39… I am confident that as more SPACE comes between me and our struggle that I will have new perspectives to share with you.
I will continue blogging as I always have but today marks the start of a new chapter and the topics and themes will be about much more than just our current struggles. I invite you to stay connected with me by subscribing to my blog, or connecting with me on Twitter and Facebook.
Christie, your strength strenghtens those you love and care about. Seeit, feel it and trust t!
One day He may flip over the tapestry called “your life” and let you see the beautiful side that makes sense. My life so far has shown me that what He’s allowed me to endure has been, at times, for the sakes of the others that He loves. It’s what Dianne calls being “sent ahead”. And, if He endured the cross for my sake I’ll choose to endure what he allows me to go through for His sake and plan. We know you already have and are “with” you on this journey.
I can’t wait to celebrate the finality of these terrible times that you have been faithfully enduring! And, they will be here before you know it. I really believe God’s refining fire in your life now is almost complete.
You are being “sent ahead” Christie and one day you’ll experience that fact.
Spuritually “having your back” …. “Mr. LeadHer”