In the midst of life's
whirlwind, it's easy to lose sight of the unwavering faith that once guided us.
While going through
containers filled with my parents' things, I came across a journal and
immediately recognized it as one of mine. What surprised me the most was the
year it was written: 1995 - 1998
As I began reading some of the entries, I found one from
April 19, the day of the Oklahoma City Bombing, and several entries about a job
I'd been laid off from. One entry really stood out:
November 3, 1996
Mom found this poetry
contest in the paper last week and thought of me. She kept it and gave it to me
yesterday. She told me to send in one of my poems, and she said she feels like
God is going to use my talent for writing to help me prosper. Mom also told me
that one day I'll have to quit my job and do nothing but write.
The journal contained a lot
of day-to-day stuff about how I was feeling; however, this one sentence was on
every page: "But I trust God, and I know He will work this out for his
good; I will keep praising Him for He is good."
Rereading this journal
showed me that God answered prayers. My faith was strong. A lot has happened in
the last 30 years. I lost both of my parents, one to Alzheimer's and one to
lung cancer, and then my brother passed away with a heart attack. Then I lost
my job. So, I wonder: is my faith in God still as unwavering as it once was? To
be honest, no, it is weak; however, rereading this journal reignited that flame
again.
I had begun to think God
wasn't listening to my prayers, but He was. He brought me a family when I was
feeling lonely (Psalm 68:6). He blessed me with a wonderful husband and an
extended family. He has shown me His love and His grace over and over again.
Although my faith may have
wavered a bit, revisiting what He did for me in the past has rekindled that
passion. I believe God led me to that journal; He wanted me to read it again
and hold on to that strong faith I had 30 years ago.
If you have lost your faith,
or maybe, like me, it's still there but not as strong, I encourage you to
revisit your own experiences. If you kept a journal of how God has worked in
your life, reread it. If you didn't, take time to reflect on the moments when
He answered your prayers and fought your battles for you. Rekindle your faith
and allow the wind of the Holy Spirit to fan the flames until they burn
brightly and passionately once again.
Father God, I pray for the person reading this. May Your
breath fan the flames in their hearts once again, causing them to burn brightly
– In Jesus name.
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