Each of us have had our lives turned upside down. It happened again two weeks ago when a close friend died. One minute I can see the end, the light at the end of the tunnel if you will and then next no light and no clear direction. It has left me with many questions.
But my biggest question that keeps me awake late at night with only the fan to break the silence, how? How does one have faith despite all odds and reality screaming "sorry it doesn't seem possible?"
Great odds
In the past few years I have faced many situations that have been impossible, ones that have pushed, stretched and broken me, but none such as the one I face now. I have realised that is the one thing the pastor or the church elders in the west leave out, how we have faith against the impossible.
We as disciples, as the modern Church, rarely come against things that force us to face great odds, and when we do a lot of us often give up and forget what we are fighting for. We almost every time lose sight of what is true, and forget who God is despite the odds.
For someone who's barely into his early twenties, my world has been turned upside down so many times, I have honestly lost track. I have lost many friends and family members to horrible circumstances and suffered great loss.
It is always in such times we turn to those wiser and ask what to do and often the answer is "I don't know", or "everything happens for a reason". Neither answer lines up with who God is nor have I met so many people who have turned away from God because they got an answer like that and they have yet to turn back to him. And whenever things are turned upside down we always seem to forget there are other forces at play.
In line
Despite everything God is good and always good. It is always a matter of asking what is in line with Him. Even though not everything happens for a reason He does say in Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (NIV). He promises in Romans chapter 8 verse 28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (ESV)
Being in line with Him, we come to realise, that there are other things out there that are constantly coming against us, whether it's the powers and principalities, sin, or someone who wants to do things their way.
It is one of the most imperative things as a disciple of Christ, and one that I am coming to realise more and more in my own walk: if I am not in line with Him, who or what am I line with then?
Faith against all odds
Coming full circle on the question that I am currently facing: how do I have faith against these odds and reality screaming "sorry it doesn't seem possible?"
It is imperative that I recall all those other times God has proven reality wrong, and ask what is in line with Who He says He is. And surrounding myself with those who have an intimate relationship with Him, along with freely telling me what I may not necessarily want to hear.
Most importantly asking myself "if I can't have the faith against the odds who does?" The answer is one that often stares me and everyone right in the face: Jesus, "the pioneer and perfector of our faith" (Hebrews chapter 12, verse 2).
Ashley lives in Kingaroy, Australia. He is currently, studying teaching at Christian Heritage College and newly married. During his free time Ashley can be found, reading an old book or collecting new ones.
Ashley Menelaw’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/ashley-menelaws.html