Thursday thoughts: Faith boosters

I was thinking this week on faith. Faith is the confident assurance that God will fulfill His promises even when we don't see the pathway. It is not just wishful thinking or blind belief, but it is trusting and relying on God, evidenced by our obedience and action.

There are so many situations in my life that have made my faith stronger. I can see my faith has increased by past experiences. I think once you look back at your life and see how many times and ways that God has answered prayers or protected you, your only response is to allow those experiences to increase your faith.

I can remember in our early years of marriage how God provided for us when we were just a young couple with no money and really, not much life experience. God put the right people in our lives at the right times. The pastor who married us and his wife, Billy and Sheilah, were such a big part of my life. They were mentors to us in the early days of our marriage. They left a huge impact on us. Even to this day, I believe Billy prays for us on our anniversary.

We have dear lifelong friends in Dale and Loretta. They have walked with us every step of the way through so many trials and tests in life. I cannot even imagine how many prayers they have lifted on our behalf. Both of these couples have influenced and encouraged my life. They have increased and boosted my faith.

I can remember times in our life when money was tight. God always provided in ways I could not have imagined or thought of. This has increased and boosted my faith.

I look at my mother-in-law, who has weathered so many trials in her life. I saw how she lovingly and selflessly cared for my father-in-law with dementia before he died. That increased my faith and definitely my admiration for her as well.

I can look back and see throughout the years how God has miraculously provided just what we needed to be able to take care of our daughter with special needs. There have been times when we did not have any idea how we were going to do it, but God always made a way. My faith increased greatly.

All I have to do is look back, and I can see how every situation and experience in my life has made my faith stronger. When I was in the midst of a trial or test, I didn't always feel or see that my faith was increasing. But in retrospect, I can see God's provision and hand in all of it. He was ALWAYS there.

I read a quote the other day that said, "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations." Sometimes we don't see the faith-building of an experience when we are in the middle of it, but we sure see it when we reflect back. I am human, and I doubt and worry, probably more than I should. However, when I get down and discouraged, all I have to do is remember the ways God has blessed me, provided for me, and protected me.

I can see how my faith often grew through experiences I probably would have never chosen. There were times of disappointment and uncertainty where God proved to be faithful over and over again. Every time I faced a trial, He was there. Each season of waiting for an answer, He was there. Every provision, answered prayer, and stormy season drew me closer to God because He was faithful.

My faith seems to increase the most in the harder seasons of life when I learn to depend and trust completely on Him. I pray that we can always remember God's faithfulness and trust His promises. I completely believe that it is only He who has brought me this far. I know that He will continue to strengthen, increase, and boost my faith for whatever lies ahead. I pray you know He will do the same for you. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

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Jill Johnson finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, and Georgian. Jill is retired from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.