Faith isn’t walking into a fire, certain you won’t get burned. Faith isn’t blind, either, but it does mean facing the unseen and the unknown with the conviction that we are not alone and the experience will somehow sculpt us into a new version of ourselves.
Faith is easy to proclaim, but when it comes down to it, it can be really hard to live by. It’s kind of like putting on a blindfold and running down a busy street (if the street is in Phoenix, this would be insane.) In our minds, we recognize the dangers- we could stumble into a light pole, wander into traffic, get hit by a bus, fall into a ditch… the list goes on. Would you have enough faith to do this?
When adversity hits, my tendency is to obsess over the facts, mentally travel the possible actions and their consequences, and then I make decisions accordingly. I rush in and “do” something.
To me, faith is the ultimate trust. Kind of like running down a busy street blindfolded. Faith is relying on something other than my own abilities. Faith is believing that there is hope even when all the evidence I see says otherwise.
What is faith to you?
~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-
If you’re looking for fiction, please stop by next week. I plan to have a response to another one of Emilio Pasquale’s amazing photos. Hope you’ll check it out 🙂
JannaTWrites 
Beautiful. I think that’s the perfect description of Faith. As scary as it seems, sometimes we just have to go with faith and put that blindfold on.
Thanks, EagleAye. Faith is fascinating to me because when I think about it, it goes beyond reason. But still, I find comfort in it.
* Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain. ~ Vivian Greene
* A certain amount of opposition is a great help. Kites rise against the wind, not with it. ~ John Neal
Great quotes, Nancy! You are really good at finding quotes 🙂
To me, Faith means Trust — and trust doesn’t come easy once you’ve been burned (and who hasn’t, you know?) Anyway, I think of Faith as that little voice that, when you’ve fallen off a mountain and are hanging onto a skinny branch for dear life, says, Now let go! Your first thought is to ask if there’s anybody else up there, ha! P.S. I’ll write more in an e-mail when I get a chunk of time to compose!
Faith does involve a huge amount of trust, Debbie. Your illustration of faith is a perfect example – wish I would have thought of that 🙂
Faith to me is knowing I am not in control nor do I need to be, and even when I can’t help myself God will lead me to the shore.
I like your description, Suzicate! Giving up control is hard sometimes, but it’s funny how things tend to work out better when we give up that control.
So its come to this? I have to read it here that you have another story for one of my photos ready to go? Well, I’m happy I didn’t miss that announcement. Please don’t forget to tell me what day so I can link to your post. 🙂 And, faith to me? Believing in yourself. And learning from mistakes. I happened to catch an interviewee yesterday who said, and I will have to paraphrase, do not let the past define your future. Do not live in the past but learn from it. I agree.
Well, that isn’t exactly the case, Emilio. Right now, the story is actually scribbled notes on both sides of a 3×3 post it note… I’m hoping to turn this into a story. As soon as I have something that qualifies as a story I’ll send it to you and we can work it in between your other posts. The past cuts both ways. It can either hold us back or allow us to soar… however we choose to use it.
I was only kidding about the story! But post it notes might be fun sometime as a work in progress. As for the past, I think the trick is not to let it hold you back. That is a choice you make- maybe even subconsciously. At least it was for me. I’m not suggesting I have the answer- any answer- for anyone’s problems. I think I’ll shut up now.
Yeah, well I’m in trouble because I can’t find that post-it note right now! You’re funny- sharing your experience doesn’t mean the answer applies across the board, but I think it does give you the right the put it out there as a possible answer 🙂
I’m not sure what you’re referring to but I do know that there is never one answer to any one question. My experience is just that. Mine! I never mean to compare and if I did, I apologize.
No need to apologize, Emilio. I don’t think I was clear in my response… I meant to convey that sharing your experience is welcome even if it may not always apply to everyone 🙂
What is faith to you?
Not sure as it evolves a bit each and every way and I think I have it but yet it is mystery.
Faith is mysterious at times, Carl. Thanks for sharing your view on faith 🙂
What an eerie picture. It would be good for a picture prompt 🙂
Thanks, Tessa! I took it a few days ago when I went out for a morning jog. For some reason the fog was particularly thick in that area.
I like your last line in the first paragraph and the post’s very last sentence. Good choice to compare faith to fog (which has rolled in here again) Faith is that there is some sort of plan and direction even if it’s not seen or understood….(about all these moves on this odd chess board – none seem to be in the play manuals?)
Fog for you, too? It’s nice as long as it’s not too thick and I’m not driving in it 🙂 I like your definition of faith – especially the not seen or understood part – we live in a time when we want concrete proof (seeing is believing…)
What other choice when what is seen is not very believable any more? (And it’s fog soup again this morning. Noticed walkers/dog staffs have started wearing reflective neon orange vest, jackets, shoes or dog collars…Maybe it’s Brigadoon and they forgot to tell us?)
I kind of like the fog.. it adds a mystical air to the neighborhood 🙂 It is funny how it seems to be sticking around this year… I don’t remember as many foggy days last year. Glad you stopped by, Phil!
This was gorgeous.
Faith is unconditional love that lifts you beyond yourself.
Thanks for reading and sharing what faith is to you, Lance 🙂
one illustration of faith is dangling from a rope in a pitch black hole. You hear a voice saying, “let go, you are only 2 feet from the bottom” You can’t see to verify this. For all you know, the drop could be much longer. Do you choose to believe the voice, or stubbornly cling to the rope, just in case?
That is an awesome depiction of faith, Bryan. Totally trusting without knowing for certain is faith (goes against the “seeing is believing” nature of culture, eh?)
Faith is difficult at times as we don’t know where we are headed. It’s easy to get complacent in our every day life and used to the norm. It is when those times are shaken that we have to rely on faith to be there. thank you for sharing your thoughts. They are appreciated. 🙂
Complacency is easy… especially when things are going good and we aren’t tested. Thank you for always stopping by to read what I have to say and sharing your thoughts, Sean!
Beautifully put… Yes, I agree. Faith is not a feeling, and isn’t always based on evidence (although I find faith does sometimes rely on the memory and truth of God’s actions to save me in the past… In that sense faith is not blind). But as you say it does require courage to trust in someone other than ourselves. Someone who is able to hold us and guide us and shape us beyond what we understand…
Praying you keep holding onto Him in the storm.
God’s past care for his people should give us the courage we need to put our faith in that very same God. I agree that faith is not blind. Some days, it’s harder to let go of my need to control than others, but I feel I’m learning. Thanks for stopping by and taking time to share your thoughts on faith, GodGirl 🙂
When we are out on the proverbial limb, we hope the limb will not break. When we call on the Lord to sustain us, we forget about the limb because we believe that the Lord will come through for us. Faith in God is believing His promises are true. Don’t look at the limb. Look at your mighty God. He loves you and will help you find your way in the fog. I like your fog picture. It’s perfect for your post. Great post, too. Blessings to you, Janna…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on faith, Carol Ann. God can choose to rescue us from precarious situations and set us down safely when we free-fall 🙂
Thanks for this. Faith to me is being grasped by God for good.
Thanks for reading, Allen. Grasped by God for good… I really like the flow of that phrasing 🙂
Stunning post, Janna!… “Faith is the ultimate trust”… that could be my motto!… Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀
Thanks so much, Aquileana! I’m generally not the most trusting person and am skeptical of motives, so faith is fascinating to me 🙂
You describe faith beautifully, while I, on the other hand, struggle to define my faith. Perhaps it’s a feeling that, no matter how bad things get, I will always make it through. I guess it’s faith in myself and in the light, strength and protection which never lets me forget we are not alone. I look forward to reading some of your fiction and hope you are well 🙂
I had to think on this one a while to find the right words to describe faith. I do think that believing we will survive our trials is a part of faith. I have not had as much time as I’d hoped to work on the story, but early next week looks promising, so crossing my fingers 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and adding some thoughts on faith, Mel!
Maybe what you describe makes me convinced that I do not have faith.. On the other hand life needs a lot of trust. Without trust we would not survive as human beings I think.. but for me trust can never be never blind, there are probably areas where they would be, but those are areas where there are less trucks and the risks involved. I think for me I thrive with a healthy ambiguity of trust and suspicion. 🙂
Trust and suspicion do have a way of balancing our perspective, Bjorn. I like how you paired those together… sort of opposite forces that play against each other and keep us upright.
Faith is a beautiful thing…and I have it.
I agree, Kathy – faith is beautiful. Thanks so much for stopping by- good to “see” you 🙂
A beautiful inspiring post Janna,
Faith is the implicit belief that God exists within us. If we believe in this truth So there can be no fear or thoughts to trouble our mind.
Thanks so much for reading, Dilip! Faith does bring a peace that would otherwise not be present.
I hope that the fog has continued to clear for you this week, Janna. I’m wishing you much peace and well-being and look forward to the time when you’re ready, on your terms, to begin writing again. Take care!
Thanks for the kind thoughts, Leigh. I’m able to write a little, but not nearly as much as I would like. In time, I think things will change.
Welcome back to writing/WordPress, Janna. Grateful and glad to see you here!
Thanks, Leigh! I’m still not writing as much as I like, but I’m happier writing some 🙂
Lots of good descriptions of faith here! Faith: The substance of things hoped for, the evidence not yet seen.
I like that, Patti. Thanks for adding your description 🙂