How Faith Keeps Me Grounded
Life hardly aligns with our plans. I have learned this lesson quite a few times, but a truth that I have held on to is that even during a life that is enigmatic and disappointing to me, God is still unchanging. My faith in Him is the thing that keeps me centered even when I do not get what I want.
Conversations That Linger
Not long ago, I talked with a woman from my church who shared her discontent with God. She thinks God is ignoring her and not granting her prayers, which is why she is so angry. I tried to talk to her to help her understand that God is always speaking, even in the quiet, even though it was really hard to watch her so depressed. However, I got the feeling that she had a deep-seated grudge, and ever since, it has been weighing heavily on my heart.
Her story is not isolated; it’s a situation I have gone through and seen so many times. So when we pin our faith on the particular results—be it a job we are praying for, marriage, a healing we are desperate for, or a breakthrough we have been waiting on—we cushion ourselves for failure. That is not because God has failed, but because we trust in the results, not in Him.
Faith Isn’t A Transaction
I went through the phases of my life where I was sure God was not hearing me. When I prayed with all my heart and soul for a specific thing only to have the situation turn in the opposite direction. At the beginning, the feeling of lost hope was unavoidable. Still, as I have grown in my relationship with Him, I have come to the gripping realization that faith isn’t about getting the things we want, it is about believing in His plans even when we do not understand them.
The Bible reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
This verse has been my anchor. It reminds me that God sees the bigger picture and that He is always right, even if He doesn’t follow my expectations.
Silence, Bitterness & Trust
I told the lady from church and I also want you to know this: God is always speaking. He speaks through His Word, through people, through circumstances, and sometimes even through silence. But hearing Him means we must be patient with His timing and let go of the desire to control the outcome.
It’s not easy I get it. Some days the silence is so loud and the waiting is unbearable. But those are the days when faith becomes real—when we have to decide to trust that He’s working all things together for good even when we can’t see it yet.
Feeling of bitterness usually arises when we think that God does not care or has deserted us. But bitterness doesn’t really do anything—it just takes us away from the one who can heal our hearts. I can see it with my friend and it’s really sad. Her WhatsApp status shows the level of her difficulty, and I am still trying to get through to her.
Who God Is > What We Want
Nevertheless, we all can easily fall into bitterness if we don’t take care. That’s why I keep on reminding myself to concentrate on who God is rather than what I want him to do. He is loyal, loving, and right. Even though my circumstances are not what I want them to be, those truths still exist.
Faith is not a matter of results; it’s a matter of relation. It is about believing that God is with us during the waiting, in the heartbreak, and in the unexpected detours. When we change our focus from what we desire to who He is, we find peace.
For The Waiting Heart
To the woman who thinks that God is not seeing her, I want to say this: He sees you. He loves you. And He is working in such ways that you may not understand now. Don’t give up on Him because He will never do that to you.
If you’re finding it hard to stay in your faith, here’s a very simple prayer you can use:
“Lord, I don’t always understand Your ways, but I trust Your heart. Give me the grace to rely on You when life is unclear. Remind me that Your purposes are good, and make me patient to wait for You. Amen.”
Faith is my anchor, as I am not flown by the idea of it being easy but having a real experience with God. It is the belief in God that even in worst-case scenarios, he still rules the affairs of men that God is in charge of the universe and holds everything in his hands—and that is enough for me.
