Situational Faith

I can not name the number of times that I have walked into a patient's room who was a believer and the severity of their situation dimmed their faith. I can not name the number of times when I faced a situation that had me scrambling and fearful. I can not name the number of times I have found myself frustrated with close believers who had the joy of the Lord on Sunday declaring and decreeing on Monday until a situation stole their confession of faith on Wednesday. What causes believers to shrink down in their faith? I grow up in a house with a grandmother with unshakeable faith. I mean unmovable. For example, one day my uncle was shot in the head, we all rushed to my grandmother's house crying and screaming and my grandmother did not budge. In fact when we busted in the door with the horrible news my grandmother said, "I know," then she said, "God is just dealing with Marty" (my uncle). She sat in that same spot sipping her coffee and looking at her stories on TV. Her mood and poster remain the same. She said, "he will be all right" my grandmother's stillness confused me. In the same way, our faith and trust in God should confuse the devil. She did not shift because of the situation.

My uncle had a bullet in his head talking to a doctor who said he never talked to someone with a bullet in his head before. He still has that bullet in his head today and no health issues from it.

I have seen this unshakeable faith demonstrated by my grandmother over and over again. I stayed with my grandmother from the age of fourteen until she die and what I witness is a woman who lived a life of fasting. I mean No food for weeks and when she was not doing an extended fast we all fasted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I didn't think much of it back then but in hindsight I am amazed. My grandmother also owned a homeless shelter that was open twenty-four hours a day. What was amazing about my grandmother's shelter is that she had church seven times a day and seven days a week and the first service was 4 am every morning. And I was in the church at 4 am every morning. I was responsible for a least five of those services a week because I was responsible for sitting at the church several hours a day giving away clothes and feeding people who came for a plate. I was young but God was preparing me and I didn't know it. One of the most profound things that I remember about my grandmother is that she hated fear. One day I called her because I just had a stillborn baby and my hands had balled up into a fist by itself and I was panicking. I called my grandmother and she came over and rubbed my hands with alcohol she told me that if something happens do not fear, she said fear makes it worse. My grandmother not only believed in God but she depended on Him to keep his word. His word says, "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?” Psalm 27:1

My grandmother's stillness and airtight faith during chaos and confusion spoke volumes about her trust and her faith in God. Her faith was loud and proven. Recently I was meditating and studying Matthew 8:5-9 the story about the Roman centurion soldier who approached Jesus concerning his servant. The Centurion understood Jesus' spiritual authority and asked him to only speak the word. Jesus was so amazed that somebody understood the power and authority of the word of God. Just like the Centurion God has given us the authority to speak his word and believe that He is able. Having authority over our emotions and trusting God to lead every aspect of our life takes practice and nothing gives us to practice like being right in the middle of a hard situation. Nothing tests our faith and character like problems, hurt, pain, money, and disappointment. We often run from problems and situations than allowing them to build our faith and trust in God. My grandmother had figured out the principles and power of God's word that is where she lived, in the presence of God. We all live in the presence of God( Psalm 139) rather we acknowledge him as Lordship over our circumstances, health, life, children, finances, spouse, or not. It depends on us. Nevertheless, situations will always arrive, the question is will our FAITH and trust in God?

Chaplain Kenya Anderson