Journey of Faith
“We are always courageous,
although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”2 Corinthians 5:6-7
Sometimes we may encounter people who seem so “full of faith,” those who always talk about Jesus, live out lives that try to realize the teachings of God. There are also some people who may be “full of faith” who are a bit more quiet or reserved. The approach to their faith may be different, but their commitment to God and His teachings, not one more than the other. It is quite useless to compare our faith with others because each person’s journey of faith is unique. At the end of the day, there is no prize for the most “faith-filled” Christian, for Jesus won salvation for us all. But the question is will we accept it?
Faith is one’s personal relationship with God and the free “yes” we give to Him. Faith is also a journey. It is not a measure of accumulated lessons learned or degrees earned. Faith is one’s personal encounter with the Living God, the One who fashioned us and calls us by name. Faith is a relationship that needs to be nurtured. In the Gospels we hear Jesus say if one has faith even as small as a mustard seed, they could tell the mountain to move and it will, but in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, saying that, like the mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows to be one of the biggest of plants, allowing birds to dwell in it, the Kingdom of God will likewise grow for God wills that all be saved. Like the mustard seed and the Kingdom of God, our faith is not something that is planted today and grows to its full stature tomorrow. It takes time to grow and mature. The Kingdom is constantly being built up and our faith is constantly being challenged and strengthened. No matter where we are in our journey of faith, no time spent on it is ever wasted.
We must always remember that our faith is a journey. There will be times when it’s smooth sailing and other times when there will be jams and detours. Sometimes we will even get into accidents and need to pull off to the side of the road to assess the situation. These moments are not failures. They are each a part of the story of our journey of faith. These moments invite us to reflect on our journey — where am I now and can I see how far I have come and how far God has brought me? Where have I felt God’s Presence strongly and where have I felt His absence? How did I respond? Did I turn to God or did I turn to my own devices?
God allows us to experience these moments on our journey of faith for a reason, never as a punishment, but always a grace and a gift. There is something God wants us to see and learn about ourselves, about others, or about God Himself. So, no matter where we are today, at this very moment — whether on a quiet, moving part of the interstate where the sun is shining brightly (when we feel at a good place with God; when we feel His presence and love in our lives) or stuck behind a car in the middle of a traffic jam in the pouring rain (when we feel stuck or even lost, questioning God’s presence and His love for us), we are moving towards God. Whether our faith is still a seed planted in the ground or a towering plant with leaves and branches, God is at work within us and as long as we desire it, God will continue to draw us closer to Himself, so that the Kingdom might be realized, and we, who are His sons and daughters, might come to dwell in the shade of His loving embrace.
Watch this week’s reflection here.
