By Deanna Bartalini
“If you know me, you will know my Father also.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.” ~ John 14:7
How are we to have faith? I think that is the question the disciples are asking in today’s Gospel. It’s a question I have wrestled with as well. How do I have faith in the light of all the trials and troubles in this world? First, there are my own problems, then the concerns of those I love, then my community, and outward and onward, it goes, like a pebble thrown into a pond, the circles continuing on and on. Until finally, it all looks insurmountable; the ripples grow and threaten to overwhelm.
Hold onto Jesus
But wait, that isn’t what happens because I have faith despite all the problems in this world. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has overcome the world by his passion, death, and resurrection. We are in the season of Easter. We are meant to be celebrating our new life in Christ and awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit.
Our faith is a gift. The apostles had the advantage of being with Jesus for years before his death and resurrection. They lived with him, yet they were sometimes confused and doubted. But they persisted in doing what the Lord asked them to do. That is the beauty of faith. No matter how much or little we think we have, God uses it and gives us more, especially when we step out in faith and do something.
Move in Faith
For example, a few months ago, many things had gone wrong in my life – personally and professionally. I felt like a failure, that I had not fulfilled my purpose, and God had abandoned me. But I persisted. I kept the faith and took one step out of my miserable self.
I want to say my life then instantly changed into exactly what I wanted, but that would be an exaggeration. What did happen was that God slowly answered many of my heart’s desires. I kept the faith. I asked for more. I moved forward in faith though I seriously doubted the path.
Like Thomas and Phillip, I wanted answers ahead of time. That only sometimes happens.
Often, we are asked to trust and have faith. Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for us. The Father is known to us through the Son. And we can have faith by looking at our lives and seeing where God has moved, in big and small ways. He moves people, things, and situations. Do we see those times? Do we acknowledge it is Him?
Prayer
Father God, may our faith continue to grow as we celebrate the resurrection of your Son, Jesus.
Call to Action
Make a list of the times you have seen God move in your life. Draw on this list when you are struggling as a reminder of how faith in God has sustained and comforted you.
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I do relate to everything about this! Thank you for sharing and reminding us that God is real, in our midst and He is listening to all our prayers. His love is like no other and we must be patient because He knows the whole of our situation and the situations of all those we care about. “Pray without ceasing!” Jesus, I trust in You.
It often seems like the only thing we can do is pray! But it is the most necessary.