It is written that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
As I lied in bed one sleepy Saturday morning my faith was lacking. I pleaded with God, “Just tell me what to do. Give me a sign.” I was a single mother struggling with a big life decision.
I waited and listened only to hear nothing. In the past I had seemed to hear God speak loud and clear, in the center of my being. But now, when I desperately needed an answer, He was quiet. I begged, “Just tell me what to do and I will do it.”
Silence.
I felt frustrated and abandoned by God. The next day I met a friend for coffee. I shared with him my frustrations and asked him for prayer. Instead, he told me a story.
Jack smiled as he spoke. “When I was young, my dad put me in Boy Scouts. I protested, but he told me it would build character. So I went to the meetings and worked on my badges,” he said.
“I remember this one weekend in May. We had a camping trip to Lake Bush, up in Minnesota. I was excited but also felt a little fear. We drove up on the bus and camped out in a grassy area by the lake. The mosquitos were buzzing and the air was muggy. We pitched our tents and then went off to fish.”
“How old were you?” I asked.
“I was about 12,” said Jack. “And I was not the most outgoing guy in my class. But during the first night in our tents, some of us boys snuck out to take a midnight hike up to this waterfall. I was not sure where it was, but wanted to join the adventure. So I unzipped my tent door to join the boys on this journey. I don’t remember all the details, but there was this one kid, Sam. He looked at me holding my new green flashlight. I am not sure if it was a dare or not, but he yelled at me, “Hey Jack, you have the biggest flashlight, so you lead the way.”
I smiled, imagining Jack as a young boy. “Go on,” I said.
“Well, I was not prepared to lead that hike. I mustered up the courage and took my place in front of the troop. We walked silently in the dark night. All I had to lead me was my little green flash light that illuminated about 20 feet ahead of me. That’s all I could see. But after walking 40 minutes, step by step, we made it to the waterfall,” said Jack.
“Wow,” I said, “that must have been scary.”
“It was,” he said. “But I just focused on the step in front of me. I don’t know what you are supposed to do, but I challenge you to just take a step. And trust God to lead you on the right path,” he said.
Jack’s words stayed with me days later. I was still uncertain, at this crossroads in my life, but Jack’s words inspired my faith. I was mindful with each step I took. I found the courage to walk forward in a new direction without seeing the end.
Faith requires a person to believe in something before it happens. This sounds so good and spiritual, but in daily life can seem ridiculous. We tend to operate in this world by our five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. If we can’t see it or touch it, how can it be real?
Faith asks us to take a leap to a new realm. A reality that transcends our physical senses and challenges us to operate on a higher plane. That day, I took the leap, led only by the light, one step at a time…from fear to faith.
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
~ Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr