"Thy Faith Has Made You Whole"

I am sitting on my patio, listening to Christian music, wrapped in a blanket, reading scripture, and sipping hot cocoa as I type these words. It has been such a perfect morning! Today my dad is in Florida for a baptism, so no church here in Oldham County. I decided to spend the morning reading, reflecting, and praying. I could not have started my day in a better fashion! I think I beat everyone in our neighborhood up (including Keal); it was so quiet outside.....just me and God!

Yesterday was spent with my two pregnant sister-in-laws and their families. This was a challenging day for me and I spent most of it in sadness and anger. Having to listen to them comparing baby doctor appointments is just so painful, so I try to stay away (even though I can still hear them). But then I feel even more isolated. It's such a difficult situation to be stuck between.

So, as I walked outside this morning, praying for guidance, I decided to focus on you and what we already have, and not what others have or what we don't have yet. This journey, and an even greater focus this miracle month, has been all about faith, so I decided to do some faith reading.

First (here's the analytical in me!), I looked up the definition.
Faith (n): 
a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion

b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust (3): something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs

— on faith: without question 

Then I began reading verses which include faith. I read countless verses this morning, but a few really struck me. The first chapter I read was Mark 2.

Mark 2:8-12: "And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."

Every day, I am continually asking God to forgive me of whatever sins I may have. And every day, I believe, whole-heartedly, that these sins are removed. I don't doubt for a moment that I still carry these sins around with me. So then why would I ever doubt that Christ would be able to say to me, "Arise you are healed." It seems like commonsense, but I had never thought of miracles in this manner (even though I had read this story countless times and even had it highlighted in my Bible already). When our sins are removed, that is a miracle. More times than I can count in a day, God is working miracles in my life. So why would I ever doubt that he couldn't work this miracle in my life as well. 

Romans 5:1-5: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;And patience, experience; and experience, hope:And hope maketh not ashamed;  because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Tribulations are given to us for a reason. They bring patience, patience brings experience, and experience brings hope. I have known from that start of this journey that there was a reason for all of this. How reassuring to read the reason for our tribulations this morning! Yes, we are learning patience, gaining experience, and have a hope from all these things!

Romans 4:20 "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God."

I cannot let this journey get me discouraged or angry with God. I need to remember that as I just learned in Romans 5, we are given tribulations for a reason. I need to stay strong in my faith that God is working this miracle in our life. And through it all, I will continue giving all glory to God! 

Mark 4:35-41  "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?"

I feel God constantly whispering to me, Peace be still. I feel Him calming the storm in my life. I feel Him rescuing me on those days when I am angry or fearful. Yesterday, I had strength to hold it together because I know He heard my whispered prayers. I know He whispered, peace, be still, yesterday. I feel His comfort in the midst of this turmoil. And for that I am grateful. I have complete faith that He is working this miracle in our life, but I do feel the swirl around me still, and I know He calms that storm for me and brings me back to a level of peace.

Mark 10:52 "And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."

I look forward to the day that we find out we are pregnant with you. I know on that day, God will be looking down on us saying, "Go thy way; thy faith has made you whole." 

And until that day, we will continue on this journey with a spirit of praise, knowing that through our tribulation God is teaching us patience and hope. We will continue on this journey full of faith so that God does not ask us, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" We will continue on this journey in faith so that we one day hear, "Your faith has made you whole."

Thank you God for a beautiful start to my Sunday. Thank you God for rescuing me from my hurt and pain yesterday. And thank you for this journey; for sculpting us into stronger, more faithful people. Thank you God for everything!

(And I don't count this a small thing either....while typing this post, I have been listening to a random Christian radio station. Many of the songs played were songs from my Let Faith Arise playlist. I feel God with me this morning even in the music being played! Thank you God!)