Last night, I teased someone that “honesty is the best policy”; but I really do believe it. So…honestly, if you had asked me a few years ago if I would be blogging so vulnerably on Facebook, I wouldn’t have believed it. But I’m committed to share the words that come to me, Trusting that they are intended to enCourage. I keep hearing that they do…so I keep sharing. And I am blessed to share God’s goodness to me…in the “good” times…and also in the “not so” good…because that’s the true “test” of Faith.

And just as I’ve come to be open to sharing the words, I’ve also come to expect to “life out” my morning posts during my day. Yesterday was no different…as soon as I dropped the kids in carpool, the “attacks of opportunity” began for me to choose to either cave to doubt and fear, or to stand firm in my Faith and rest in God’s goodness. Honestly, I lost count how many times I caught myself saying, “Father, I CHOOSE to BELIEVE…anyway.”

And when I received a very honest reply from my hurting friend, I responded with equal honesty. I admitted to my “hard” day. And that I understood how it can seem like God is too busy to pay attention to what is happening to us…in those times that we can’t “feel” Him. Sometimes, we have moved too far from Him so we can’t “feel” His presence; and other times we have made choices that have painful consequences. In either case, that’s our “issue”…we can’t blame Him.

But for me yesterday, it was simply “lifing out” a specific answer to my prayer for direction during my morning quiet time. I watched throughout the day as the doors slammed closed; and I even explored with a friend to see if some windows were open, but the answer was clear…no. So I shared specifics from the “yuk” of my day to assure her that I understand; and how I was so disappointed that I spent a few moments crying on my bed once the kids were out with their friends last night. That’s not a lack of Faith, that’s honesty and God honors that.

But after I dealt with my disappointment, I began to accept His answer–knowing that He loves me. And my Peace and Joy have returned as I’m choosing to REST in Him. Honestly, I don’t know how it will all work out…but I know it will. And I’m choosing to keep my Faith even though I can’t “see” the Provision yet… because that’s what Faith is. The dictionary describes Faith as: belief that is NOT based on proof; and the Bible describes it as assurance of “things NOT seen”.

As I was gently reminded yesterday…FAITH is a CHOICE to BELIEVE…or it’s NOT. 🙂

“Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 ASV)

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39 ASV)