I have always enjoyed talking with seniors. It seems to me, as I’ve said on many occasions, that they are an untapped wealth of wisdom and knowledge. When I talk with them there seems to be a trend, almost universal, regarding their memories of the past. That is that in difficult times it seems they speak in a very nostalgic way. As they swap stories of World War II and the great depression, they speak very fondly of them. Hardships such as blizzards, the old outhouse, or even the times during college when they ate nothing but canned soup and stale bread for three weeks in a row seems only to bring on a sense of affection.
This seems to be very contradictory to me until I thought a little about my spiritual life, about my faith. As I look back at some of the difficult times in my life I now see them as a time of great spiritual revelation and growth. Difficult times helped to nourish my faith and strengthen my bonds with God. Seeing this lived out in my own life, I can better understand one of the mysteries relating to God. Faith boils down to a question of trust in God. If I choose to stand on the solid rock of trust in God (The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer: my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2) the worst of situations cannot destroy that relationship.
A solid faith allows us to believe that despite all the chaos of the present moment, God does reign. Regardless of how worthless you may feel, you truly matter to a God of love. None of our pain last forever, and no evil triumphs in the end.
Rock solid faith sees even the darkest deed in all of history, the death of God’s Son, as a necessary prelude to the brightest moment in all of history, His resurrection and triumph over death.
I would surely fail in this life if I would base my faith on my shifting feelings. I choose to base it on the solid rock of God, He is my sure hope.
Sharing His Spirit – tRP
the Rear Pew 