Walk in Faith

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6 NIV)

I first started brainstorming for this post before the novel coronavirus hit and changed everything. I thought about June and school being out and vacation at the beach. I love going to the beach! It’s both fun and peaceful. There is just something about the sound of the crashing waves and the smell of the salty air. It’s my place to rejuvenate. This year we had a big extended family trip planned, so June was supposed to be a fun month for us. Before the pandemic, I was jotting down ideas for my devotional—all about vacation and rest. Then the shutdown came, and the ideas of vacation and rest took on a whole new meaning. Suddenly, the idea of writing about sun and sand, rest and relaxation didn’t seem to fit anymore.

With our world completely changed and with so many unknown variables in front of us, one phrase has given me comfort: Walk in faith. It is what we, as Christians, are supposed to do all the time. And we do. But now it seems different. It seems we have to apply this not only in a spiritual sense, but a literal sense.

With all of the pressure, stress, and anxiety that a global pandemic has brought us, there have been many blessings as well. We live in a fallen world where there is sin, sickness, and death, but God has a plan, and his plans are good.

Walk in faith.

From Facebook and Zoom concerts to watching the kids play outside as much as they can, there has been plenty of good in the midst of the bad. People are nicer, and they are working hard to help others. We are noticing others, helping others, and seeing what is truly important. We are focusing on what really matters. We have been forced to set aside every distraction and have our attention drawn solely to basic human needs. We have responded by helping and praying and worshipping.

Walk in faith.

In my She Reads Truth Bible, I came across a devotion titled, “Sing to the Lord.” The author made a great point when she said, “Oftentimes, I’m so wrapped up in asking Him to be my Provider, I fail to see Him as my God and my Deliverer.”¹

The Lord is our Deliverer. No matter what we are going through, the Lord is our Deliverer. He will make a way out.

Walk in faith.

So hopefully next June, as we are sitting on the beaches, enjoying the sun and the company of others, we will also remember the lessons we learned when the world was turned on its head by a virus. Hopefully we will remember how our similarities are more important than our differences. And hopefully we will continue to remember, in good times and bad, that the Lord is our provider, deliverer, and Savior.

Dear Lord, thank you that you can use everything for good. Help us remember to walk in faith daily and to remember what is actually important in life. Guide us, when we return to normal life, in remembering the lessons we learned during a time of struggle. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“Sing to the Lord, you his faithful ones, and praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.” (Ps. 30:4-5 CSB)

“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him. ”(Isa. 61:1-3 CSB)

“You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.” (Gen. 50:20 CSB)

“Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” (Gal. 6:9 CSB)

Reach for More

How are you walking in faith daily? How can you help others walk in faith? Do you remember the blessings that came from ashes?

Dana Herndon is a writer, blogger, and middle school teacher. She and her husband live in Georgia with their three children. In addition to teaching and writing, Dana loves to read, paddle board, and sometimes run. She blogs about faith, family, and enjoying the everyday life at danaherndon.com.

Photograph © Matt Flores, used with permission

¹ Raechel Myers, Holy Bible: She Reads Truth Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017).