A Faith Moment

God moved in the midst of my faith.

I recently received good news regarding a job opportunity. It was beginning to feel like things were falling into place. I was expecting to receive a call from human resources to officially move forward into the opportunity but after nearly a week, I still hadn’t heard back from anyone. No call, no email, no letter. Silence.

Doubt began to creep in.

What if things fall through? What if they changed their mind about selecting me? Am I even good enough? What if this is just another disappointment?

As I allowed my mind to spiral, I began to feel more and more discouraged. The hope and excitement I had felt only a week ago was fading like the sun into the night sky. Worry began to take root. I began to question my worthiness and, subconsciously, I began to question God’s blessing.

My flesh was stuck on the natural, but God operates in the supernatural. When we see a dead end, God is busy clearing a different better path far ahead, parting seas and creating roads in the wilderness. My flesh saw an obstacle and I lost faith. I began to question the blessing and desire Egypt - old familiar places, people, and mindsets.

My flesh wanted things to unfold my way and in my timing but God in His goodness and mercy is so intent on transforming me. I’m realizing that when things aren’t going my way, it’s not because God doesn’t love me but because God loves me so much that He wants to refine me to live in perfect submission to the Father. I become more like Jesus the more I surrender to Him in the uncomfortable times, just like Jesus was one with the Father as He submitted to death on the cross. He is intent on deeply changing me as I journey toward heaven.

I’m realizing that as a follower of Jesus, my life is a series of supernatural events woven into a tapestry that stretches toward heaven. It is not a single encounter but a lifelong story of sanctification made possible by the blood of Jesus, the grace of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit. God is patient to teach me faith by cultivating it in me, rather than handing it to me through nothing but good times and easy roads. I believe that gaining faith through lived experience is one of the most powerful, awe-inspiring gifts that God gives us. It brings a different type of intimacy with God. It makes Him that much more personal.

I believe that God blesses faith. He asks for mustard seed faith - the faith that displaces obstacles from our lives, the faith that appears small and seems surrounded by darkness, buried beneath layers of dirt, but that roots and grows into a monument of God’s faithfulness. Our little bit of faith can become a tree - a full, lush testimony that stands in remembrance of what God has done on our behalf, how He multiplied the small seed and brought forth a tree.

God reminded me of the power of faith today. As I was worrying about the opportunity falling through, I found the mustard seed faith to prepare for the opportunity anyway. This was only possible through the power of the H0ly Spirit. I found the faith to say, “Even if the door closes, I know God will provide another way and another path. I’m going to prepare anyway, even though things aren’t coming together the way I had thought.” I put on worship music and praised God even though I felt down and didn’t feel like singing. I relied on faith instead of my feelings. I’m witnessing the way the Holy Spirit is transforming me to do the things that will benefit my faith when my flesh wants to do the opposite. I am learning to worship in the valley, in the difficult times, in the hard moments.

“Even if the door closes, I know God will provide another way and another path. I’m going to prepare anyway, even though things aren’t coming together the way I had thought.”

In the process of preparing for the opportunity by faith, without seeing the desired result yet, an email popped onto my phone from someone I was hoping to hear from. The email explained that I was absolutely still the selected person for the opportunity, that logistical hiccups were delaying the opportunity’s start date, and that they were looking forward to having me on the team.

In this moment, God lovingly reminded me of the blessing that faith brings. He is uprooting doubt and anxiety from my life by moving when I move in faith. I believe that God desires to give us a gift beyond the gift - the gift of faith. The gift of faith outlasts the lesser gift that we originally yearned for because the gift of faith is one that can grow and strengthen over time. It is a gift that can mature, expand, and endure. When the job, house, or relationship doesn’t come, the gift of faith can still be accessed. Faith is of God, thus it is eternal unlike the fleeting gifts available in the physical.

Operating by faith can shift things in our lives. Not by our own power, but through the power of God on our behalf. God sees our faith and He blesses it. He desires that we trust Him and surrender to His plans. When things are looking bleak, turn your eyes away from your circumstances and onto the Lord who is orchestrating everything for your good and His glory. Take a step of faith and watch God move.

How can you activate your faith by taking an active step of faith while waiting for the fulfillment of a promise, hope, or dream?

I hope this story of God’s faithfulness in my life blesses you as much as it blessed me! Keep trusting God through the unexpected, believing that everything is unfolding in His perfect timing.

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25 Lessons from 25 Years