Because my faith has evidence…
Hey ya’ll. This week was almost overwhelming in its memories of times and places and events. Most times I can keep on pushing with just a fleeting head nod to what has been; but, this week I really had to stop and deeply honor all that I’ve already come through and the great evidence or proof that I now possess of God’s faithfulness in my life.
When we’re in the moment of transition or when we hit an impediment, we don’t always see right away that there is a greater cause and purpose being enacted in our situations. Let me explain. My absolute favorite Scripture is Romans 8:28 which reminds me that “all things work together for good to them that love God and to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Although I know this to be true, in a moment of intense testing, I don’t always readily embody the attitude of someone who is fully aware that “all things” are working for me. Truth is— looks like I’m going to have to grab my tea—my speech nor my attitude 100% of the time aligns with the message of Romans 8:28. The truth is, I struggle. I fret. I worry. I get anxious. I fall into despair. I wonder if God is listening. I wonder if the pain will stop. I wonder if I’m the only one in the world who is going through what I’m facing. I don’t feel supernaturally powerful or even naturally sufficient.
But then, there are some days ya’ll if you catch me when I’m rested…wait, where are my manners? I didn’t even ask if you wanted some tea today. Would you like some raspberry zinger? It’s early so it’s not so hot out if you want to grab a spot on the porch and visit for a moment. Anyway, there are some days where all of my pistons are firing! I’m rested. I’m ready. I’m refreshed and restored and I feel like an absolute superhero in faith! On those days I’m the greatest encourager. I believe with everything that’s in me that God is going to take care of me and you too! On those days—sips tea and rocks in my favorite chair—you can’t beat me proclaiming God’s greatness in full acknowledgment of my very own weakness.
What kind of day is today you ask? lol Well it’s the day that the Lord has made and I’m totally rejoicing and being glad in it. Today is a good day. Like I mentioned earlier, I spent some time this week in reflection of all that God has already brought me through and I started repeating to myself “my faith has evidence.” My life is proof that faith in God and His boundless ability is real, tangible and accessible.
I could run a list of many things, but this week being the 15th anniversary of Katrina, the 5th anniversary of buying my house, and the 4th anniversary of the flood of 2016 were are super significant for me. Fifteen years ago, Ben and I lost just about all of our earthly possessions and had to start over in a new place. I was also navigating through a divorce. Yikes! It took ten years of what seemed to be a never ending journey—a lot of kindness, physical, financial, and spiritual support from friends and church family—where Ben and I lived with others, then moved into an apartment and were finally in a position to purchase a home. Ten years of wondering and wandering…ten years of incessant dichotomies…some days faith, some days fear, some days hope, some days depression, some days up, some days down. I’m not going to lie to you. It was not easy and some times I struggled, friend. I felt like I’d never get out of the hole that I was in. And when I had just about given up and decided that what was would always be, God reminded me that His promises were true.
You see, I’d been in survival mode so long, I hadn’t taken a breath long enough to realize that my situation had improved! Have you ever struggled so hard that when the fight was over you didn’t even recognize you could take the gloves off? That’s a different story for another day. Sips tea and rocks… Anyway, 10 years to the day that I left New Orleans evacuating due to Katrina, I purchased a house which has become a home full of life and love. Look at God!
Just as I was really settling in, in August of the very next year, the great flood of 2016 happened. The house I’d just purchased was now under water in a neighborhood that wasn’t a flood zone. I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t upset. I’m not going to even act like I was so totally in the presence of God that I wasn’t utterly disgusted and fatigued some days with having to rebuild…again. But I will say this, my faith had evidence by this point. I knew that the same God who had taken me through the last 10 years, was the same God who would take me through this flood.
And HE DID!
God blessed me with such angels— men and women of God— who worked tirelessly to tear out the waterlogged flooring and walls and to rebuild. I’ll never forget the true love in action shown to me during these moments by too many people to name. Now, four years with the flood in the rearview mirror, I am keenly aware that all things have and continue to work for my good.
Katrina, the house, then the flood, rebuilding? It all gave me evidence of what faith produces. I am proof that God is real and that faith works if you work it.
That’s a wee bit of my evidence. What’s yours, friend? Does your faith have evidence? I know it does. You just have to recall it to my mind, so that you can have hope “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is (God’s) thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23)
