Faith Seeking Understanding
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me”
faith seeking understanding 1 faith seeking understanding 2
For some people this is hard verse to handle, they prefer to focus on the pretty part lying down in green pastures having your soul restored by God and living in the house of the Lord. But that doesn’t stand out to me.
Every time I hear this verse I immediately go to the part about the darkest valley, and I don’t really know why.
I come from a good family with fun stories. I was not traumatized by a certain event or catastrophe in my life when I was a kid, my life is made up of little moments that have each slightly altered who I am.
In 7th grade my parents started talking about my dad having to find a new job, but I couldn’t say anything. I tried to ignore it so I could enjoy the pains of middle school, but still wanted to be updated on (my dad’s job search) the progress of the we call rejection letters which we called “you suck letters” and next step in the interview process. A couple years went by and by Freshmen year I knew we would officially be moving but I didn’t know when or where. It was hard to not have a plan and have to trust that my parents and God could figure it out.
That summer really tested my relationship and trust in God. I don’t think I have seen my darkest valley yet and hope that mine isn’t pitch black. But when I do I know that God is going to come with me because I have already strengthened my relationship with him. Relationships are a two way street and when I need God to pull me out of my valley I know he will be the first to jump in and help me find a ladder.
The Holy Spirit is all around us, Jesus lives in our hearts, and God is watching over us. Anywhere we go or anywhere we are in life the Lord is with us so we have no need to fear.
My mom tells a story that when I was two years old I was in my car seat and asked where Jesus lived my mom said ‘in your heart’ I looked down at my heart and said ‘Hello Jesus’ if that doesn’t describe my relationship with Jesus I don’t know what does.
I’ve known since I was little Jesus was with me and as I grew up I started to realize what faith was…it was the natural next step in my relationship with God. Of course I have questions and wonder about things. So I pray and ask questions. People pray for things all the time. To get into a certain college, to win the pageant (I participated in pageants), for loved ones to get well, to ace a test, to not flop on stage, to have patience at work, the list goes on. It can get discouraging when we a rejection letter from the college or don’t even make top 10 at the pageant. Doesn’t the bible say ,”ask, and it will be given to you” I thought if I said “yo God I want to be the next Hannah Montana thanks” that my life would change then and there. But see God doesn’t work like that. He works on his time and in his ways, don’t think God takes everything literally either, but trust him he knows what he is doing (he has been doing it for a long time) That trust we have that God is listening is faith.
Faith is putting trust in Jesus and God that what the bible teaches us is true and that they will always be with us and look out for us in life.
So when I don’t get exactly what I prayed for what is God trying to say? If you look closely the next part of the verse says “search and you will find” searching requires action. Yes we are asked to put in some effort. This relationship with God is hard work just like any relationship you have to nurture it and help it grow, it’s a two way street. When I can’t find something, say the TV remote my dad always says “well did you actually look”. Sometimes we have to look a little hard, dig a little deeper into the couch cushion then we were willing to before. (As I mentioned before I have competed in pageants and 2 that were important) I didn’t make top 10 at Miss Indiana or Miss Washington but God saw deeper into my request to win, he saw my deepest desire… to make new friends, to find a passion, to learn more about myself and to have an experience to share. I had to search to find the answer. Now I have life long friends to aspire to be like, I have a platform; volunteering from the heart, and have a drive to keep dreaming.
Searching is followed by knocking, “knock and the door shall be opened” What is this door? It is new opportunities, new views on life, and new relationships. Again it requires a step of action. Before a big performance or important interaction with someone I say a little prayer- no longer asking to win or get exactly what I want but I say ‘dear lord, please be with me out there and help me to do the best I can and for my best to be enough for what I need’ then I go out there and do my thing.
When it is all over I dissect it, I search and I knock to see how God answered my prayer and what the next step is. It is not about getting what I want but what God knows we need. I think it is difficult for people to fully accept that God is going to answer how he sees fit, he has a plan for us and he will work in his own mysterious way. Though it is not the scripture for today my favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Prosper you and not to harm you plans to bring you hope and a future” this verse has gotten me through everything and is a constant reminder to me that I am not alone and when it feels like I am in a dark valley that God is in that valley with me and has a plan to get us out.
To me faith is the definition of our relationship with God. And through that relationship we search (physical action) for peace in our lives and earthly relationships and try to understand why bad things happen to good people and try to understand God’s plan. But here is the secret, we can’t understand, there is no possible way to comprehend the massive plan full of love that God has in store for you, for me, for all of us. And I don’t want to understand. Faith is giving up control, faith is trusting that God’s plan for you is beautiful.
He<I
~Rachel
(Student Ministry Sunday 2015)
Comments