Stepping Forward In Faith
Trusting God in difficult circumstances is sometimes easier said than done. Stepping forward in faith, no matter how small or shaky that first step is, can position our hearts to be receptive to God’s work in our lives. Sometimes stepping out in faith means pouring God’s love into someone else’s needs when we aren’t quite sure how to help them. God’s hand moves in unexpected ways, often bringing people together at just the right moment in time.
Four years ago, my husband Brian was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. This diagnosis shook our world, and together we spent five painfully long days in the hospital struggling to have hope. Our church family along with other family and friends, prayed, visited, and offered support in countless ways.
However, as the week drew on, my own prayers felt weak with doubt. Daily, I made the short pilgrimage downstairs to the small chapel to read over the same verses of the 23rd Psalm. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want,” the familiar Psalm begins, and yet, I could not fully see at that moment how God was already working behind the scenes.
One morning toward the end of Brian’s stay in the hospital, I encountered a familiar woman near the bank of elevators. I had seen her working in Brian’s room, and at that moment, she was pushing a linen cart toward an elevator. She pulled me aside, wiped the tears from my face, and prayed for me. Her testimony was a similar one, as her own husband had been diagnosed with a similar condition some fifteen years prior and was still alive. The bold faith and testimony from a stranger–a woman who stopped during a busy day to show God’s love–was a turning point in my own relationship with God. I felt God’s presence in a big way that day, and it helped me to push forward, my own faith growing as I felt reassured and hopeful.
Sometimes, knowing when and how to reach out to someone in a crisis situation can feel daunting. We wonder if the prayers, words, or small actions that we offer others actually make a difference. The kind woman who reached out to me that day most certainly had other business to take care of. I was a complete stranger, yet she followed God’s prompting in her heart to reach out–a step in faithful obedience. I am reminded of Galatians 6:2 (ESV), where Paul says, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” It doesn’t take a grand gesture to encourage someone, to share a moment of Christian love with them, yet it can make all the difference for a person in need.
Brian is managing his health condition well, and we both have grown in our faith since that time, learning to trust God more each day. Our lives are a work in progress. Whether we take steps in faith as we walk through difficulties, or we strive to step forward in faith as we reach into the lives of others, our ultimate trust and faith can rest in God, our provider.
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
-written by Amber Harvey
Amber serves alongside her husband Brian as Deacons of Hospitality at Redeemer Church. Amber and Brian have been married for twenty years, and enjoy traveling and finding new ways to volunteer within their community.