By ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge” (Proverbs 12:1).
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Our journey of faith is filled with trials and joys along the way! Life is destined to be good if we learn something new about God’s love every day! It often seems we are being tested by all the chaos in today’s world. The gift of free will and the freedom to rely on God for guidance are blessings we cannot take for granted. The power of the Holy Spirit is available to counsel us in good times and bad!
There has never been a time in salvation history when evil did not try to conquer the good created by God. The letters of St. Paul, written to the early believers, provides a powerful witness of faith in the teachings of Jesus. Paul’s exhortations are still relevant today. St. John Paul II wrote, “There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us.”
Throughout life, we are tested. The choices we make have consequences and affect those around us. We acquire knowledge in school by preparing for exams; we hope to become better people through the challenges in our relationships; we are evaluated in our careers. We strive for excellence, but do we ever take time to assess our knowledge of faith, which ultimately makes our relationship with God more meaningful? I was feeling overwhelmed, and I began to wonder, is God testing me? Am I failing? We all have these moments; please talk to God before your worries get too big!
We always look forward to gardening season and enjoying the fruits of our labor. The last couple years, our harvest has not been very successful. I bought a soil testing kit and discovered the dirt was completely devoid of important nutrients. Was the kit inaccurate, or was our soil awful? The same day, I spoke with a neighbor who shared concerns about the quality of our local water, so I bought a testing kit. The results revealed a high level of contamination. So, was the kit a company’s way of selling a water filtration system, or had we been drinking bad water?
Trials in life are inevitable; and the way we deal with them requires discipline, with a willingness to accept the outcome. Most problems are fixable, but we all know the world is filled with issues much bigger than anything we can control alone. My conclusion? We must rely on God for protection and truth when it matters most.
God does test us; not for His sake, but for our own. The Old and New Testaments are full of temptation and stories of sacrifice. God never tempts us to sin; rather, He reveals the immoralities surrounding us, so that we may avoid the occasion to sin. There is plenty of conflict in a society filled with confusion, and we struggle to avoid gossiping and complaining about other people. Be attentive! Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge. And remember, God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand the test of time! Now and forever! Amen!