Steadfast Faith

22 "If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him—" Deuteronomy 11:22 Greetings, I hope that everyone is well and that times are full of persevering. This, I hope for you so that your faith is steadfast and not ceasing. I am writing to you in the matters of not only the share of my faith and its trials, hardships, and lessons learned, but the matter of making sure that you are able to learn from my writing and what is contains. As of recent, there has been this series of trial, hardship, and lessons that have really caused me to question as to why it may be occurring at this time in not only my life, but the lives of those around me and seeing how it is affecting them, too. Besides that, I've been analyzing my own faith and how it is is being steadfast during the times that make me either question or almost want to doubt. But I do not go into doubt because I have the certainty of the promises from a Savior and that's what keeps me looking to God for guidance. It's kind of funny how everything has just been really playing itself out. I say this because so much difficulty is happening. I am going to share with you what's been going on and how I'm trying to keep not only my eyes on Jesus, but attempting to influence my family to do so as well. Although, it is the works of me who will cause my family to look to God, rather, it is the work of the Spirit. 1) Education: School really screwed me over in a sense that I will have to transfer again and that really has me bothered. I question as to why my education has been so difficult for me to maintain and be in this constant vernacular, but what can I do? Nothing. I can do nothing to change this, but to hope that a plan will be revealed to me in time of what God would want me to do about it. Yet, that is a struggle of mine in my faith because I am the type to be analytic, logical, plan-oriented (not all of the time, but I like to be), organized, realistic, idealistic, and innovative. I enjoy having an idea of what is to come close down the road in the future, but that raises the question in my faith...How do you know what will be happening then, when you aren't sure as to what you're going to do or what will happen in a few seconds, minutes, later in the day, night, next day, etc. You can try to plan all of you want, but ultimately one will never know because they aren't capable of playing out the plans God has for them. Solution: Trust in God with all of your heart and pray for a steadfast faith, holding onto Him. Do so because trusting in God shows that you are trusting in His plans for your future. He is to further and give you hope, not to harm you. How do you have faith, besides believing, when you can't trust in Him? He wants you to trust Him. He like a friend who is waiting for that friend to rely on Him for anything and everything. He is faithful. 2) Finances: Money and finances alone is an issue for everyone it seems and causes us to feel unsure as to what or how God is providing for our lives. Lately, I feel that finances has caused my family's faith to be in a bind because we are struggling immensely. Rent, bills, and even to have food on the table, everything together is a struggle. Rent and some bills left unpaid and paid in small increments (rent that is), and bills turning in late. Yet, my mother feels it has only worsened ever since today's earlier event. After work, my mother had gone to the bank and there, the vehicle broke down. Then, to only learn that our money is in the negatives due to some unfortunate matters. To get that back on track, only way to fix it is by giving in the next pay on Thursday to only exchange it, it seems. Therefore, for a month we will go without money to pay for rent, rest of the bills, and food. Tough, yes. ( I am not explaining the situation to go for some pity party or anything, I'm using this to explain...just saying) My mother is losing hope and has questioned, "Why does this happen to me? I hate this. I am so sick and tired. I am tired of living not even pay to pay. I am tired of living this way. I can't do anything right." To hear this from my own mom makes me really...not so much feel horrible, but my heart breaks for her because I can't really do much to help her and the situation. I've shared my hope and told her, "Don't worry, Mom. This isn't the worst that could happen. We have each other and that is so much more. Everything will be alright. Just another rough spot to press on through." Frankly, I am hopeful and can be optimistic, but I am highly a realist. Therefore, for me to say such isn't so much realistic for the most part, but it's a matter of keeping hopeful for the unknown. I trust that God will provide for us because He has done so and continues to do so for us despite it isn't every little awesome thing out there. But through this, we are able to realize that to have things taken care of, food, and possessions aren't anything to us, they're not ours, they're Jesus's. God will help provide for all that we struggle with and comfort us because He has promised to do so. We are to look to God in these situations even. These situations are large ones that tend to take our focus away from God, what He has promised, His ways, and what He is planting in us because we live in a sinful world, but when we return to Christ, we realize that God is greater, His love runs deep, long, and wide, and that nothing else matters. What He provides is not of this world and is not of the Earthly matter because it runs deeper and it is RICH. Despite the hardship of on the verge of being very financially unstable, WE ARE RICH. Yes, I said that. We are RICH. We are rich in love, kindness, perseverance, and faith. We, as humans will naturally question the hard times, but when those questioning moments pass, we always return to God with certainty because of His promises and steadfast love He has displayed towards us and continues to do so. Conclusion to all of this, To have a steadfast faith isn't a matter of just trusting in God alone, but it is hearing, believing, and living your faith loud despite all of the ways of this world that may distract you from God and what He has told you to trust in and let Him worry about, opposed to you worrying your life away. We are so much more to Him than things of this world and we forget often that our relationships with God are so much more than what we face in our lives, that being consisted of work, finances, educational issues, relationships, etc. God has got this and has taught us to hold fast to Him because these times of trial and hardship do not last, but what does last is the eternal life we are promised through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the blood of the lamb, we are saved and promised an eternal life. This eternal life meaning to be of the ages. Eternal life lasts age after age. Our steadfast faith is to last through the ages, just as His love for us has. His love is steadfast and strong, He never let's go. Press on and keep steadfast in the love, promises, and faith that you have. God isn't going anywhere, therefore, no fear, He is here and alive. I am praying that we as disciples in the world will look to God and help others to look to Him in the times of confusion, hardship, and trial so that we do not let go of the faith we have in Him. <3 Mak