Oh Me of Little Faith

Recently, my husband and I have been hit really hard. Our health insurance was canceled and we were left without coverage. It was really scary news and I started worrying. I cried and paced and didn’t know what to do! We both have MS and desperately need insurance. My husband has Medicare, but I was left with nothing!

But then I remembered that we have a God who can move mountains and calm the seas. I reached out to my closest friend and faith community for some much needed prayer support. Then I picked myself up and gave it all to God! First HE started calming the seas of my worries. He replaced the worries with praise, the anxiety with thankfulness! God is bigger than any problem and HE will work things out.

I sent a message to my doctor and received a message back a few hours later, assuring me that he was keeping me as a patient, even if I don’t have insurance. What an answer to prayer!

Several days later, I learned about a program in my county that provided for doctor visits and medications. We made an appointment, met with them, and I walked out of there with coverage! I don’t have ER or hospital insurance, but I am set for Doctors and prescriptions! As a bonus, my husband and I also now have dental coverage! God is good!

Why did I panic? I have been a Christian for decades and I know that MY God WILL supply all my needs! I have seen prayers answered and miracles occur.

My own life has been peppered with trials – being diagnosed with MS, the breakup of my first marriage, losing our home and the worst being when my son was paralyzed several years ago. Sixteen years ago, I married a wonderful man who also has MS. In the last few years his MS has worsened to the point that he is in a power chair and my life is filled with caring for him.

My God has seen me through each trial and made a way where there was no way. That doesn’t always mean that the problems disappear, but God equips me to deal with what is before me.

So when this latest “crisis” hit, why did I not immediately turn to Jehovah Jireh (God the Provider)? I have to chalk it up to being human and imperfect (Yes, I am the first to admit I am imperfect!).

I don’t think I’m the only one who has experienced this. I’m sure many of you have similar stories.

Calming the Storms

If we look at Mark 4:35-41 ,we see that Jesus and some of his disciples were on a boat in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had fallen asleep and a furious storm arose. The waves broke over the boat and the disciples were frightened that they might drown. They woke Jesus, saying “Lord save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied to them saying,”O Ye of little faith, why are you so afraid?” He then
got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Hmm….looks like we’re in fine company!

The disciples’ lack of faith reminds us that even those who lived and walked with Jesus, saw His miracles, and heard His message STILL found it difficult to be 100 percent faith-filled all the time.

If Jesus was able to rescue the disciples from the storm, He is also able to rescue us from the storms of everyday life: sickness, job loss, marriage problems and more!

Faith is an unshakable belief in God and the promises of God. Faith and trust are woven together and one doesn’t work without the other. Faith is like a muscle and needs exercise to grow. Romans 10:17 says that “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” It also grows through our trials. James 1:2 tells us to: “Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.”

Sometimes God allows adversity in our lives to bring us closer to Him and cause us to grow. So maybe the trials aren’t so bad after all??

Let Go and Let God

Our lives will ALWAYS be full of ups and down, tears and laughter. We can’t change that, BUT we can change the way we approach things and focus on how God will sustain us.

A song that has helped me through some rough spots is “God On the Mountain by Lynda Randle. You can listen to it here: God On the Mountain

When we are on top of the mountain and everything is going great, we’re just sailing through life; but when we’re down in the valley where things are rocky, that’s the time that our faith grows. We will have trials – our health may be a problem, our finances may tank and a myriad of other things go wrong.

Faith in the midst of adversity is like the sun breaking through the clouds. It is a time to draw closer to the Lord, listen with your heart and trust him more. PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! Ask the Lord to bless you with wisdom, strength and increased faith.