A PIECE OF MY HEART...how far will your faith take you?

I have a friend that is really going thru a hard time. Her life has literally been ripped apart. She awaits each day, each hour, each moment for a good report from the doctors. She has many unanswered questions of "why"?

But despite this dark hour she is experiencing, she has not lost sight of one thing ... her faith. Her faith seemingly has not wavered in her time of difficulty.

This is the kind of faith that I want to have.

1 PETER 1:7 "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ"

What causes someone who is going thru the fire to have such faith? How does one give praise, honor and glory to Jesus Christ when everything seemingly is falling apart?

I don't believe that this kind of faith is born out of our trials and tribulations. This deep rooted faith must be in place prior to the difficulties that may come our way. Having faith must be exercised in the good things as well as the bad.

It is easy to say we have faith in God when everything is rolling good in our life...

• We easily profess our faith in God when the kids are well.
• We easily profess our faith in God when the bills are paid.
• We easily profess our faith in God when the boss gives us a promotion.

~What happens to your faith in God when...the doctor tells you your child has cancer?

~What happens to your faith in God when...the mortgage company repossesses your house?

~What happens to your faith in God when...your company goes bankrupt and you become jobless?

Faith cannot depend on your circumstances. You either have it or you don't. Trying times will determine if you really have faith.

I heard this saying many years ago and it has always stayed with me..."Preparation time is not wasted time". Just like a runner prepares for a race, a Christian should prepare for when trials and tribulations come. Because they will come. Our actions and reactions to the stress and difficulties in our lives can be determined by our perspective.

I remember a story I read awhile back:

There were two fishermen. One was an experienced fisherman, and the other was an amateur. Every time the experienced fisherman caught a fish, he quickly put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh. However whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish he repeatedly threw it back into the water. The experienced fisherman observed this all day and eventually asked, "Why are you throwing back all the big fish?" The inexperienced fisherman to his surprise replied, "I only have a small frying pan."

The perspective of this fisherman could have been different if he would have realized that all he really needed was a bigger frying pan! Many times, we are like this fisherman and we throw back the plans and opportunities that God gives us because we are not ready to increase our faith in God. Sometimes these plans and opportunities come after we have gone thru a trial.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE of the trials and tribulations in your life?

DO YOU GIVE UP HOPE that God is in control or do you give Him praise for how He is going to use your bad situation to bring about peace, contentment and healing?

JAMES 1:2,3 "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

Praying, fasting, reading His Word and spending time with Him will be a good plan of action to prepare for those things ahead that will stretch your faith.

HOW FAR WILL YOUR FAITH TAKE YOU?