Got a Trampoline Kind of Faith?
Note from Poppy: My friend, Beth Farley, writes a weekly column so I invited her to share this with you. I think we all identify!
As a Christian, I find it ironic to be asking, but I have to.
Does your faith bounce up and down?
I woke up with a little case of shaken faith. Please don’t tell me that I’m the only one that tends to have a trampoline kind of faith at times.
Have you ever jumped up and down on a trampoline? I remember jumping on my kids’ trampoline once, yup, only once. I didn’t enjoy it at all; as a matter of fact, I hated it. I didn’t like how I was not in control of where I was going to land. Fear and insecurity gripped me.
In 1 Kings 18:25-40 we read about Elijah and the prophets of Baal. In this story Elijah believed God would consume his enemies. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s quite the faith. But, his faith was shaken when Jezebel heard of what Elijah did and threatened to kill him.
Does he go to God? No, he hides away in a cave!
He was afraid, and ran for his life.
But…An angel of the Lord came down and touched him, not once, but twice. God told Elijah that He would provide all he needed to overcome his enemies. Elijah listened to God, followed His direction, and had victory.
What can we do when we feel our faith is being shaken?
1) Spend time with God. Tell him your fears. Tell Him how scared you are and how much you need Him. Psalm 27:1 - The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
2) Share your fears with someone you trust. Ask them to pray for you. Sometimes talking to someone you trust can help you cope. Psalm 34:1 - I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
3) Listen to music. Listening to music is very therapeutic. Play some Christian tunes to soothe your soul. Psalm 92:1-5 - It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High.We were never promised a life without fear. But…there is hope in Christ. With that realization, no matter how high you jump and no matter how hard you fall, remember He is with you and He will help you because of your faith in Him.
Let's Talk: What is your faith looking like these days? Have you jumped high and landed low? Practice these three steps and watch your faith soar again. Share your thoughts on Facebook or email me directly.
Grow strong!