Because faith is tied to future realities, it is tied to things not directly accessible to our five senses. (Heb 11:1,3) It is “the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is not exercised in what we can see, hear, feel, touch or taste but in what our senses do not presently experience. But understand, this does not make faith a blind leap into the dark or something we exercise without any consideration of evidences. Faith is not believing in things for which there is no evidence, such as elves, leprechauns, or my little pony.” Christian faith is believing in things for which there is evidence. The testimony of history (Luke 1:1-4), the evidence of God and His handiwork in nature (Romans 1:18-32) and more give us reason to believe the Lords’ promises. Ligonier Ministry.

True faith relies on God and believes before seeing. Naturally, we want some evidence that our petition is granted before we believe, but when we live by faith, we need no evidence other than God’s word. He has spoken, and in harmony with our faith it will be done. We will see because we have believed, and true faith sustains us in the most trying of times, even when everything around us seems to contradict God’s Word. The psalmist said,” I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” He had not yet seen the Lord’s answer to his prayers, but he was confident he would see, and his confidence sustained him.

Lisa Terkeurst in her book, “What happens when women walk by faith”, says we must get to a place where we pay more attention to God at work in our daily lives. If we live our lives unaware of God in the small things, we are probably living unaware in the big things. How vitally important it is for us to surrender our hearts to God ask him daily to reveal his plans and perspectives to us, so we don’t miss His activity and His glorious plans for our future. As you look for God’s activity around you, your outlook with change, your faith will take on a fresh excitement, and you will start walking toward the amazing places God is so excited to lead you.  When you get to the end of your faith and step out, then God takes over.

Walking by faith means taking action. Our first steps of faith are uncertain, our trust of a new process. But as we begin to understand how God is developing us, we gain confidence and skill in walking in harmony with Him. If you want to walk in faith, you need to release your fear to God and accept the path He leads you down.

Some of you know that during the years immediately prior to Johnny’s diagnosis we watched our adult children suffer greatly through life struggles, including our son and his wife losing a perfectly healthy-looking newborn son. Through prayer, each of our children was shepherded through their 

grief and struggles by our merciful God and are now stronger in their faith. When Johnny was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I knew it was time to determine how we would react.

Through those first days and throughout the next year and a half, I begged and pleaded for Johnny’s total healing, at times with little hope that would happen: however, the Holy Spirit gave me the grace to always promise God that no matter what happened I would praise His name. I submitted to His plan. The most important thing to Johnny and to me was to bring glory to His name no matter what. We were and are blessed with children who encouraged the same response: no matter what, we would believe and strive to bring glory to His name. And Johnny asked God to give him a fighting chance and He did.

We were not alone and never felt alone. We were blessed with our church family who prayed, and we KNEW and felt our church was praying because our brothers and sisters reached out to us with beautiful cards, text, and phone calls. Our elders and deacons and fellow members called and prayed with us and visited us when it was safe for Johnny. That ministry was God led and God ordained and continued to come when we needed it most and much of that time no one knew when we needed uplifting except our merciful and gracious God. We also had the prayers of churches all across Rome and Georgia and the southeast and even from Burma where the daughter of one of my best 

friends is missionary. His Church worldwide prayed, He heard those prayers and we felt it.

I believe in prayer and the power of prayer but there were periods of time when I could not pray.  I would whisper prayers through the day, but I could not focus and concentrate on lengthy prayers.  Much of the time I felt numb and I frequently asked God about that feeling. I came to believe those periods were His Peace and comfort. I could only hold on. I prayed that He teach me, change me, enable me to learn more of Him during this journey.

The journey has been hard for me, but the journey has blessed me with seeing the face of my God as never before: a strong presence, a peace that is not of this world, a love that is overwhelming and at times shuts out the rest of the world. It has been much, much harder on Johnny who actually fought the physical battle as well as the spiritual battle. He is a changed person as am I. Yes, Johnny is healthy as far as we know but more importantly, he is strong in faith. He has gained back his full weight and we are enjoying each day of life. We are sheltering but enjoying the blessings of FPC on Facebook live!

I am excited to see how God will use him and me during whatever journey is ahead of us. I submitted to His perfect plan because I trust Him and because I believe in His plan. As Pastor Jonathon said earlier this year, “God’s plan is good, but it doesn’t always feel good.” Amen!

Thank you, sisters, for praying and believing and supporting us through this journey. I love you all even if I have not met you. Each of you are my sisters in Christ.

We moved to Birmingham, Al in 2005 after we stepped out in faith not knowing what was ahead of us. Claud had decided to leave the bank after 28 yrs. and pursue a different career. We sold our house in two weeks, he took courses at Floyd to see if his brain still worked and the school in Birmingham accepted his college credits as old as they were. These were all answered prayers to us. However, there were many

days when I questioned this move and wondered if we had done the right thing financially. I would say Lord, what are we doing here, and He kept asking me, “Have I not taken care of you so far?” I answered, yes Lord, you have always been

there for us.

Then I was reminded of a lesson God taught me when I was shopping at a new Publix in Birmingham one d ay. I was going up and down the aisles with eyes darting everywhere trying to take everything in. I turned the corner into the frozen food section of the store, and it was completely dark! I thought, oh no, a new store and all the lights are out in this section. Then I noticed that with each step I took, the case in front of me would light up so I could see only what was in the next section.

Hmm I thought, that was a good way to save on electricity and actually help you focus on what was just in front of you. As I was driving home, I started thinking again about the light up frozen food section. It occurred to me that is what God does in our lives. We are in the dark until we step out in faith and as we take that first step, He turns the light of His will on for us to see the way we should go. Walking by faith and not by sight means that we

live today according to God’s promises even though we can’t see them and not according to the temporary arbitrary things that our eyes often focus on here on earth.

Dear Lord, I need your help. There are bigger and more critical needs out there, but in order for me to play the role you’ve given me, I need to be emotionally healthy. Thank you for people who love me, who make me feel better just by being with me. Help me find the time to those who make my soul sing and thank you for the healing and enjoyment that brings. Give me wisdom about what I consume mentally and emotionally and help me make wise choices for my health. Help me let go of the physical and mental clutter that drags me down and help me to delight in the little things and find joy in things that I do. But instead of bur don’t stop there, s how me where else I can help bring joy point me towards people whose lives I can improve in small ways.

Use me Lord, because that’s where I find fulfillment, when I’m living out Your purposes.

And through it all, help me to see You, to turn to You, to lean on You, and give thanks

to You. Because you are the giver of life, the hope of eternity and the author of joy.

Amen

Co-chairs: Natalie Stegall (natalie.h.stegall@gmail.com) or Holly Shadday (hdshadday@gmail.com). 

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