May 19, 2009

[Rev. Doc]

The Experience Of Faith

"We live by faith, not by sight."
II Corinthians 5:7

The Child was five years old and very sick. The doctors told his mother that his tonsils were swollen, infected, and needed to come out. Surgery was scheduled for the next day and he spent the night in the hospital with his mother sitting at his bedside. She told him gently not to be scared, that she was there for him and would be right there when he woke up after the operation.

The next morning the nurses gave him something to sleep before surgery and the last thing he remembered before going under was seeing his mother’s smiling face. That is until he suddenly woke up to find himself surrounded by strange adults wearing masks. He had come to just before the operation was to begin. His young heart was filled with terror and he sat straight up and screamed "Mommy!" As loud as his painful throat possibly could. The next thing he remembered was seeing his mother’s loving smile again in the recovery room. She held his hand, whispered words of comfort, and brought him a bowl of ice cream. Even though his throat still hurt he wasn’t scared anymore. He felt loved and everything seemed right with the world again.

That is what faith feels like. It is feeling loved, cared for, and watched over. It is knowing that no matter how painful or scary life gets you need only to call out to God and He will be there for you. It is having the gentle touch of His hand on your spirit and the loving whisper of His voice in your heart. It is even enjoying the delicious, ice cream filled days of happiness that He gives you here. Most of all, though, it is knowing that you are His Child. Your Heavenly Father loves you joyously, powerfully, and perfectly. Have faith in His love then. Rejoice in your birthright. And share your love with the world.

"Faith is not a storm cellar to which men and women can flee for refuge from the storms of life. It is, instead, an inner force that gives them the strength to face those storms and their consequences with serenity of spirit."
~Sam J. Ervin, Jr.