TEST - Dancing by Faith
Photo image courtesy Unsplash
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
“You want me to do WHAT?” I asked when my prosthetist told me to trust the man-made leg and take a step forward.
How on earth can I trust something I can’t see or feel? I thought to myself as my heart beat faster and faster. It is challenging enough just to stand on a pretend leg, let alone make it move.
When I first learned to walk on a prosthetic leg, or, as my little niece calls it, a pretend leg—it felt as if I were walking on stilts in quicksand. I wobbled all over the place, never knowing where it, or I, would go. My body had no idea how to trust something I could not feel, and my mind lacked the confidence to (literally) take that first step.
Faith is described as an intellectual asset and as a trust in its ability.
Before I could have faith in the prosthetic, I first needed to find something I could trust. Because I had a connection with my prosthetist, who taught me all about the prosthetic process, he became my anchor of hope. By sharing his expertise and knowledge with me, I learned to trust the prosthetic’s ability.
Obviously, I did not start by dancing the Viennese waltz. Hardly! It took months, even years, to learn how to maneuver via the pretend leg. More than a decade of daily practice later, and I still walk with a wobble. I choose to see it as my own unique dance.
As Christ-followers, when we first step out on our faith journey, it is imperative that we are firmly grounded in that which we can trust: Jesus. The only way to trust Him is to be anchored in the Word of God. The more we know Jesus, the more trust we have in Him, and that trust is what allows us to step out in faith. Faith is simply trusting Jesus, even if it doesn’t turn out the way we want or expect.
Just as no two limb loss patients are the same, everyone’s faith journey is uniquely their own. Your relationship with God is different than anyone else’s. Please do not waste precious time comparing yourself to others. We are all on the same journey at different places and at different paces. Whether you are at the starting line learning to balance without falling, giving it all you’ve got as you near the finish line, or somewhere in between, I encourage you to cherish your faith journey as you dance with Jesus!
Questions for Reflection:
1. Where do you see yourself on your journey of faith with Jesus?
2. How is God growing your faith?
3. What tangible ways can you increase your faith?
