We all have someone
We all have people in our lives that we pray to come to faith. We have people we love and whom we show love to, love more extraordinary than the ordinary, of which is shown to us.
This is often a mixed endeavour. An endeavour of excitement, uncertainty, awkwardness, hope, love and much more in between.
Yet, this is evidently a significantly big discussion to have as it is a significantly important objective we are called to pursue. Perhaps, another day I will explore it further here.
Exciting but daunting
But I bring it up because there’s someone I love who is curious. So it excites me, but because I love them, it worries me too. Because I can’t help but doubt that whatever is going on, whatever I can do to help them or whatever God can do to reveal to them - what if it all is not enough. What if they are so close, yet so far.
Perhaps it is more comfortable to have a loved one completely in the dark, rather than to know a little bit, see a little bit, feel a little bit - but still walk away. (Yet, even as I type this, I know in my heart that that is in fact not the preferred option.)
Ultimately, it is not up to me. It’s up to the work of God in their heart. I just have to continue what I’m doing to show them more of Him.
Someone reached out to me
This special person reached out to me the other day, questioning me further about my faith. Finding me in a position which I never thought I would be in. Nonetheless, my response was spirit led. And I felt like I could share it with some possibility that you may know someone who could benefit from hearing it too. Or yourself, for that matter.
My thoughts
These were, and are, my thoughts.
One cannot force another to have faith, nor would one want to. Rather, evidently, there is something greater than just what's here and, arguably, to think otherwise seems a little bit underwhelming. But of course, that is just my personal opinion, of which I would not force upon anyone. No one forced it upon me.
One thing I would say to prompt further thinking, is to ask what you are looking for. And think about how you feel when I ask that question. Because I know what it's like to seek logic, proof or simply for or an 'ultimate' answer.
Having faith
But that's exactly what faith is. Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something, and in this context, one which is based on spiritual conviction rather than proof. And speaking for myself, I say that I’m not actually crazy for this.
Rather, I am faithful. I don't have the answers, my life isn’t automatically made better. And believe it or not, it's not always easy. I have personally taken my fair share of judgement as my life has changed. From our friends and family. After v my all, I wasn’t raised with any idea of faith or religion and the relationships and lifestyle I built my whole life reflects this.
But, I continue. With discipline, I continue to grow and learn and make good and healthy decisions - which help me love myself and those around me.
And hey, if I get to the end of the line and it turns out I was wrong, what a brilliantly beautiful life I will have lived.
A life of faith in something greater than myself. In a place that calls for love for more than myself. That sounds pretty good to me.
Harrison is a 24-year old, raised in a non-Christian family and came to faith at 18. Having worked as a Marketing & Communications Assistant for two years after getting his Bachelor of Communications in 2019, He has swapped his home of New Zealand for Europe after a few months working at a summer Christian camp in Canada. He has a passionate personality which is illustrated in many facets of his life, from writing, to sports, food, friends, family and God. Harrison enjoys exploring and grasping different parts of life and discussing them with others. Chat with Harrison further at: harrisonbellve@gmail.com