You Just Gotta Have Faith!

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
Mother Teresa

I was discussing faith with a friend of mine a few days ago.  How often is it that when we face frustrations and obstacles in our lives, someone you know says, “You just have to have faith that things will work out?”

 It’s something we are taught to say for when we really have no idea what else to say.  We tell people we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers, instruct them to have faith and the day goes on as normal.

 Faith, however, has a best friend.  Faith’s friend is often brought up in other contexts, but not always mentioned beside faith.  I find this interesting since you can’t truly experience one without the other because they go hand in hand.  Faith’s friend is Courage. 

 Now think about this, Mother Teresa, lived by faith and depended solely on God and people to fulfill her needs.  Yet, what is faith without courage?  How much courage did it take for her every single day with all the things she did, the lives she touched, the amazing encouragement and love she gave to the people around her? She fearlessly loved the people and sick children that most would turn away from, picking them up, holding, comforting and kissing them every day. 

 What about Martin Luther King?  It took a tremendous amount of courage to stand up for his dreams, justice, the knowledge that all of mankind was created equal.  Faith was at the forefront in everything he did, and like the leaders of the Reformation he knew that though he might be cut down for his beliefs and stance, he had the courage to stand firm and faith that the idea’s, dreams and the fire that he ignited would not die, but would grow into a flame that would create change in the world.

 Ever think about Moses?  He is noted as one of the Faith Fathers in the bible!  Yet how much courage did it take for him to go in front of Pharaoh over and over? How much courage did it take for him to come up against the Red Sea with all those people looking to him for answers and guidance and to raise his staff and have faith that something was going to happen?

 All throughout history there are people who have made a difference simply by taking these two friends Faith and Courage by the hand and deciding to go forward despite the odds, the obstacles and the naysayers in their way.  Thank goodness!!

 Even in our current times you see visionary’s like Steve Jobs who said, “I want to put a ding in the universe.”  I would say that Steve Jobs put a big ding in the universe and he did it using faith and courage, then gaining the knowledge, the people, the incredible insight he needed

 So the next time you are in a situation and don’t know what to say, and find yourself saying, “you just have to have faith,”  stop, think and change that just a bit.  Don’t forget Faith’s best friend.  It’s okay, Friend, things will get better.  You just need to have faith and courage that the sun will shine again.  Reset your goals and visions for the future and take off in the direction you want to go.  You can do it!

Cherry Coley  ©