When Life Calls for More Faith Than You’ve Got

I’ve noticed the colors turning on some of our trees by now. There’s something I love about Fall and the changes in the weather that prepare me for the busier months ahead. My sons are in school, my husband has longer hours at work, and I’ve resumed my studies so we’re all blessed to be busy this Fall.

Although some of the recent changes in my family haven’t been as expected as the turning colors on our trees. Sometimes change catches us by surprise. Especially if they’re health matters. One minute everyone’s fine, the next you’re having health challenges. You were not expecting this. Just when your family member was doing so well. How can it be? -Suddenly life calls for more faith than we’ve got and we doubt we’ll be able to wing it.

I’d love to tell you that I always have enough strength for every challenge in my life. That God always answers my prayers just like I would prefer them, and that “everything’s just fine” like they say here in the South. Only that’s not the case. I’m mindful of the amount of faith that's needed to see my sister get well again.

But I have to tell you, the good news is that scanning my blessings today, I am still encouraged by the strength and love within my family. By my sister’s relentless spirit to fight this yet again because she SO wants to be a Grandma in two weeks, to her first grand-baby girl! I’m also encouraged by my faith in God. Even if it’s just a mustard seed, it’s still enough. I believe this is not about the amount of faith I have, it’s about in Whom my faith is placed.

I was tempted to get discouraged yesterday when I heard my sister wasn’t well. But I didn’t. My husband gave me a hug and told me he loved me. This gave my heart strength. It also reminded me that I’ve come too far in my recuperation from depression to let it all go down in one single evening. I’ve walked the recovery path for too long to just dismiss all my progress. I was also reminded that even if life doesn’t always come with a bow, it’s still a gift. It's still worth the struggle.

After living with depression over ten years, I’ve committed myself to living in happiness -not based so much on my circumstances, but more on the reality that the alternative is never a winning ticket. There’s no joy in depression. There’s no victory there. So I keep on doing what I need to be doing, hoping and praying that I will see my sister recover again, knowing that whatever the outcome, God will give my family the strength to go through it. He hasn’t failed us yet.

I have these verses I read and pray when I’m worried: “Call on me on the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you will honor me.” Psalm 50:15 “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress...May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” Psalm 20:1,4 “He will call on me and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:15-16

I hope this encourages you today. No matter what you’re facing, we can still feel hopeful by trusting God with our life. Every part of it, the good the messy and the painful. He loves us beyond our understanding and his compassion never fails. His mercy renews every day.

Even if we think our faith is not sufficient, we can be confident that it actually is. It’s not so much about what we do. It’s about what He does in our life through our faith. So, you do have all the faith you need. And of course, I’ll always believe that “Life is Worth Getting Better”.

From my heart,

Maria A. Mansfield

Author: “Life is Worth Getting Better”