14
Jun
Ingrid
(Courtesy of Google image)

Each day we are always faced with decision and uncertainties of life. One of the greatest advices given to me is 'To Have faith in Him'. My rebellious feeling would sometimes question: "What is faith?"

I like how Linda Dillow talks about faith in her book called Calm My Anxious Heart.


1. Faith is rooted in God's character.

2. Faith is based on God's Word, not our feelings.


Dillow focuses on three characteristics of God, which I totally agree:

1. God is sovereign

2. God is wise

3. God is love


I think these three characteristics are worth talking about because when I seek to find advise, I would normally find someone who can bring a change to my problem (sovereign/powerful), someone who give me solution (wise), or someone who I know will accept me and wants the best for me (love). And it's so awesome to know that Jesus can be all three for me.


The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2


God is the Blessed Controller of all things (1 Timothy 6:15).

He has assigned us our portion and our cup (Psalm 16:5)


He says in Romans 8:38-39 that nothing, not death, nor life, angels nor

demons, the present nor the future -- nothing in all the creation is able to

separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.


For me having faith in Him become so much easier when I have the confident that He is in control, He is wise and He loves me!!!


Let's talk about faith based on His Word. God's Word is a reliable access gate to know Him, His will and His promises. Matthew 24:35 says Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.


Ok that's all nice and good but it is easier said than done. There are times when I just can't feel His love and it's even harder to feel it because I can't see Him.


There was an old idiom that says 'Seeing is believing'. Many of us don't realize that our pragmatic society has slowly creeps into our souls and teaches us to believe only what we see. Dillow says that the result of living by feelings (and only what we can see) is an anxious heart. As for the result of living by faith (trusting God for what we can't see) is a calm heart.


To live by feelings means we put our confidence in ourselves (fragile and sinful). That's why we ended up with anxious heart because at the end of the day we know we are limited and weak. We CAN'T control everything.

In the contrary, to live by faith means we put our confidence in God. God who is sovereign, wise and loving.

Faith is like taking one step at a time on a dark path.

The Bible says in Isaiah 50:10

Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD

and rely upon his God.


"Faith looks to God, but feelings look to what is going on around us. Faith hopes in who God is and what He has promised" - Dillow, 2007


So, which eyes should I use today?

Eyes that look to God or eyes that can only see the things around me?