Guest post by Kate Powers
Recently I was asked how I use my faith to stay grounded.
My first response was “I don’t know, it’s just how I do things.” But I realize this answer is useless to the asker so I have spent days on an inner quest to recreate my process.
I have had many experiences throughout my life that blind faith has brought me through.
Throughout the ensuing conversation I realized my faith is actually about trust. Trusting God to show up is the surface concept, but when I dig below the surface I realize my issues with trusting God are actually rooted in feeling unworthy of His love and blessings.
It has always been easy for me to identify the hand of God in my life. I didn’t always (or even often) understand my journey but I followed obediently. The blessings I have received as a result of my obedience are nothing short of miracles. I know God hears my prayers!
But I always struggled with the asking and with the receiving. I didn’t feel worthy, wretch that I am, to be so blessed and loved by One so great. Thankfully, this changed as I came to a new understanding of God’s love and favor while reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson who shares at length about God’s love and favor and how we doubt God’s intentions to bless us.
This made so much sense to me. I know God hears me. I know God answers my prayers as He sees fit (though not necessarily according to my wants), in His time. But until recently I always struggled with receiving those blessings because deep down I didn’t trust that I was worthy of His grace and favor.
Then I think of how much I love my children. How intricately woven together are our fibers. I would give or do anything to prosper them, to bless them, to love them.
And then it clicked.
My heavenly father feels that way about me. It isn’t about earning good behavior points or saying the right prayers at the right time. When I focus on God’s fatherly love for me whether I deserve it or not I understand. I open my heart. I receive His blessings. I give glory to Him!
When I think about it, the process really is pretty simple, albeit sometimes not so easy to walk through.
It really is just how I do things, by His gentle guidance and limitless grace. Perhaps sharing and reminding others that it really is because “He first loved us”, I can be reminded as well what an impact such a simple but profound message can have.
I really can trust Him, and in trusting Him I stay firmly planted in the faith that comes from being loved beyond measure.
About Kate Powers: Published author, speaker and coach, Kate shares information, experience and useful tools to help women rethink their limiting beliefs, incorporate their values in all areas, reduce emotional baggage and move forward with confidence and knowing. Kate has been a passionate advocate for her clients for over 10 years and recently released her second book.
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