Faith: From Survival to Stillness

Do you remember being a kid without a care in the world? Back then, the only real concern was whether we’d get that "something special" for a birthday or if Mom would drive us to the mall on a Friday night. Growing up, I never worried about whether I had enough. I didn't stress over having clothes to wear (unless they weren't the 501 Levis everyone else had) or where my next meal was coming from. It was second nature to trust that I would be taken care of.

But when I graduated and entered the "adulting" phase of life, the view changed. Suddenly, the responsibility for food, clothing, and shelter sat on my shoulders. When I got married and had children, that weight multiplied. When life felt like "too much," my faith in how it would all work out was constantly challenged.

The Struggle to Ask

I grew up in church, taught that if I lacked anything, I only had to ask God. Scripture is full of promises that say if we ask, it will be given. So, if all we have to do is ask, why don’t we? For me, the answer was a lack of faith.

As a husband, father, and grandfather, I spent many hours on my knees asking for healing or provision. But when the answers didn’t come the way I expected, fear, doubt, and unbelief began to set in. Over time, I drifted from a Godly view to a "worldly" one. I allowed my circumstances to shape my spirit.

The Shift to a Worldly View

I never lost my love for God, but I developed a mindset that either He didn’t care, or that I was unworthy of His help. I began taking control of situations to force my own outcomes. Trust me: it never works out the way we hope it will.

From this worldly perspective, my faith was filtered through my circumstances. I was operating on a secular form of trust based on past experiences and past hurts. My "hope" became nothing more than a survival mechanism. Psychologically, my faith shifted from the Creator to myself. I began placing my trust in human systems—currency, law, and democracy—that changes like shifting sands, instead of trusting in the One who never changes.

Returning to the Father

Over the last couple years, as I began to let the goodness of the Father reach deep into my spirit, I learned the true difference between worldly faith and the faith that brings us close to Papa. I realized that Christian faith is more than just a "belief" that God exists; it is a total trust in His character and His promises.

When we call on the name of God, we are calling on His essential nature and being. We are calling on who He is. 

The Good Father

Our faith is frequently tested through trials, but I’ve learned that faith isn’t the absence of doubt. Faith is the decision to trust God, to trust in Who He is, despite what we have, despite our circumstances. 

My journey hasn't always been rainbows and unicorns. However, it is now grounded in the kind of faith that only comes from the love of the Father—the quiet, steady knowing that He is in me, He is in you, and we have never been separated from Him. He is a good, good Father, and more than anything, He just wants us to have faith in Him.

Do you find yourself struggling to trust God? 

Are you doubting His goodness or His love for you?

What would it take for you to let the goodness of God seep deep into your soul?

We hope you’ll spend some time to consider these questions. And as always, if you’d like to talk more about this, feel free to reach out!