Preserving Faith

Hey guys.  Been a while since my last post, I know, and I apologize (again).  I actually just got back from AWOL so another post should be coming soon about that, as soon as some pictures get on Facebook that I can put here too.

Recently, I got a comment on my Tongues post that I want to respond to.  It went like this:

I don't understand how to ask you to write about something anonymously on this blog so I'm just going to comment and hope you see this. Bradley, will you give advice on how to keep your faith strong? My sibling is agnostic and is continually telling me my faith is wrong. My sibling is very convincing and I fear I will lose my faith. I know the usual "read your Bible", "have Christian friends", "pray", "do devos", and "attend church". I feel like that isn't working and I am just drifting farther away from Christ. So, can you make a post about how to keep your faith in an enviornment that isn't 100% on fire for God? I would forever be thankful and I know that is a hard question.

Anonymous,

Although I know that some people will pounce on me for saying this, I am going to tell you.  I know how you feel.

Yeah, I know what it is like to doubt God.  I know what it is like to doubt his existence, his love, and the fact that he somehow has a plan through all the bad things that happen.  I know what it is like to feel that every single Christian has a more fervent faith than myself. But don't give up, ok?

My personal belief is that if you don't have the fire for God, none of the things you listed will help.  Even when you do have God inside you, sometimes it seems like He is far away.  Almost my entire Dad's side of my family is not Christian. Many of my friends from school are non Christian and in fact ridicule me for my faith.  Others call themselves Christian and do not believe or follow basic teachings of Christianity.

And, even more than I fear for myself, I fear so desperately for them. 

I have had several times when my faith seemed weak.  I have experienced the deaths of loved ones, the seeming pragmatic logic of evolution in the classroom, the ridicule of family and friends.  And, I have no doubt that both you and I will experience even greater trials in the future.

But as I sit here and listen to the rain, I don't feel afraid right now.  I feel confident. I know that there is a God because I have seen what He does.  I have seen inevitable rainclouds part around from the picnic ground at community gatherings when we prayed together.  I have seen people turn from their lives of drugs and sex in the belief of him.  I have seen or heard of him healing those desperately ill.  I hear of those in other countries that die in his name every day. And I see him in everyday life, too - The kids that I just spent a week with at AWOL, for example.  The middle schoolers I led that matured under His teachings.  I see it at school when Satan tries to convince me that we, beautiful and loving human beings, came from the same place that the bacteria on my desk came from.  That we, intelligent and thinking, are somehow related to the animals of the earth (none of which think, like we do).

I guess, anonymous, that when all is said and done, I cannot convince you.  That is something that you have to do for yourself.  I have a gift - I trust.  I trust God.  I have the ability to say that "Even if evolution is true, even if God lets this happen, even if that is the way that it ends - then it is for God's plan."  I can believe that.  I know that many of my friends, including my best friend, cannot do that.

My faith really took off in the last couple years.  Something I would recommend? Go on a Mission trip.  It helps sometimes to see how God is using people to help other people.  Try talking to God and believing that he hears you.  It's like talking to yourself - even if nobody audibly replies, you know that somebody hears.

I hope that I helped.  I also hope that you don't let your sibling drag you down with him/her. 

What would any of my posts be without a Bible verse? This verse is one that a few friends told me as a joke - ironically, it was already one of my favorite verses. I'll bold my favorite parts.

Psalm 23 (A psalm of David) -

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Prayer Requests

Hey guys! This week Bradley, a bunch of kids from our youth group and Wooddale Church, and I are going to be on a trip called AWOL (A Work Of Love). We're putting on a Vacation Bible School and hanging out with all the kids. There's a heat index warning, and we're staying in campers that don't have AC. If you could pray for our safety, and most importantly that God would be working in us and the campers at VBS, it would be really appreciated! God bless you all this week!

Much Love,
Mya Grace