I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid. (John 14:27, CEV)
When you’re active in the military community, you meet a lot of amazing people. Many of them—in my opinion—have more than earned the title, “hero.” But the one who stands out the most to me is a woman I met several years ago.
Catherine’s husband is active in the reserves, and she has seen him off on multiple deployments. His specialty makes him a valuable asset whenever there’s work to be done overseas. In addition to supporting a military spouse, she mothers their sons, the oldest of whom is also serving in the military.
This amazing lady shifts in and out of her sometimes-single-parent role with grace and grit. And when it comes to living out powerful faith, she’s the person I think of first. She’s learned how to live with peace despite her circumstances. The first thing she does is lean on God, and the second is that she allows her faith community to be His arms and legs.
So often when we face challenging circumstances we get the first part right—taking our troubles to God. But we forget to allow those He sends a chance to help us through difficulties. It’s tempting to think that faith is some sort of synonym for endurance. There’s an element of persevering, but faith is so much more.
Faith is a muscle and needs to be used. I’ve come to understand that pulling in and ducking low when difficulties arise isn’t faith, it’s more like fear. And the Bible warns us—365 times—that we’re not to fear.
Watching Catherine has expanded my definition of what it means to walk in faith. Seeing how she thrives under the shadow of stress gives me the courage to step out in faith when my own challenges arise.
