Who do you trust?

Welcome to another installment of our blog… I am still working on “perfecting” my faith and falling deeper in love with Jesus everyday. Growing up  in a fairly religious family and attending a catholic elementary school built a foundation of  prayer and worship that has stayed with me in to my adult years. I’m very fortunate to have  been born into such great family but there are some drawbacks.  My faith had never been tested. It was automatic.  It was almost on auto pilot for most of my younger years. I didn’t know anything else.  I wasn’t until my adult years that my faith and  love for Jesus Christ was questioned.  That foundation proved to be solid and, after the all the questions,   Jesus Christ  lives in the center of my life as the quarterback in this game of  life. 

While reading this weeks gospel  Luke 6:17, 6:20-26  I was reminded of why my faith in Jesus seems to grow when I am faced with my greatest challenges.    I have always felt like an underdog. Like I have had to work a little harder than everyone else to get my fair share.  It may not be true but thats just a feeling that I have lived with.  I’ve noticed that I ‘d go through a season where it seems like nothing is going my way. Challenge after challenge with no break in sight. Then I end up  asking God.. “why me”?   Why does it seem like I get the short end of the stick sometimes??  I’m doing what I consider to be the right things. I pray (all the time) I read the Bible and  I even go to church when I don’t  always feel like it... “why me?”   

In this reading Jesus  is addressing a large crowd  of people and his disciples.  He says “How blessed are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours.”   I don’t know about you but... It puts me at ease to know that Jesus is looking out for the underdog. He is speaking to the  guy that doesn’t have it all.   Poor... have you been there? Spiritually or financially, either one can leave you  feeling hopeless and alone. How wonderful is it to know that when you are feeling poor, the blessings of the lord are still there. He said “the kingdom of  God is yours"  Not in the future.  Right now.  Amazing!!!  In my life,  money and  material things have come and gone. Jesus always been there for me. Ups and downs of life... Jesus is still right there. People come into my life for a season and people go. Yet, Jesus is always still there.  

Jesus goes on to to say “Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh.”   I love the way he says “ hungry now”!   Listen guys, right now things may not be exactly the way you want but,  if you have enough faith  in Jesus your challenge will turn around. How incredible is it to know that your current situation is not your ending point? If you are hungry now.. hang on, your meal is coming.  If you are spiritually struggling and weeping, hang on, your time is coming.  I’m sure we have all prayed for a life that is without  some of the challenges or struggle but, it is in those moments when we see exactly who Jesus is and what he means to us.  It is In those moments that Jesus reveals to us, who he really is and how great he truly is. Without any doubt, I can say that It has been during the times when I was the weakest  and felt the most alone that my faith and trust in the lord was the strongest.  As I get a little older I have learned to accept that there are some things that we simply can not control.  What we can control is who we put our trust in.  We can trust the lord.  

-Anonymous