TFaith Filled Living: A Journey of Trust and Surrender
Bismarck Campus Pastor | Marc Eidahl
Hey everyone,
I hope you're all doing well. I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts from our current series, "Faith Filled Living." It's been a journey, hasn't it? If you're anything like me, you're still figuring out what it means to truly live by faith. And that's okay. We're all growing in this together.
I had a chat with Lloyd, a 95-year-old member of our church, who still drives to Bismarck from Mercer every Sunday. Can you believe that? At 95, he's still learning and growing in his faith. It just goes to show that no matter how long we've on this journey, there's always more to learn.
In my sermon on April 13th, we kicked off with Hebrews 11:1, which tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In simpler terms, faith is about having confidence and assurance in what God promises even when we can't see it yet.
But let's be real. Trusting God isn't always easy. We all wrestle with faith at times. I know I do. It's like, "God, do you really have my best interest at heart?" And the answer is yes, He does. But understanding why we struggle with faith means going back to where it all got broken - in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve questioned God's Word and His character, and that's where the trouble started.
So how do we restore our faith? It comes down to surrender and brokenness. It's about letting go of control and trusting God with everything. Romans 10:17 reminds us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The very thing the enemy wants us to doubt is what builds our faith.
Growing up, I learned to build walls to protect myself. But God has been breaking down those walls, teaching me to trust Him more. It's been a painful process, but it's also brought so much joy and freedom.
Let's talk about Jacob from the Bible. He was a deceiver and a manipulator, but God took him through a breaking process. Jacob wrestled with an angel and came out with a limp - a reminder of his encounter with God. Sometimes, God has to break our character to build us into who He wants us to be. That's how we walk in the greatest joy and fulfillment in our lives.
There's a scene from the movie "The Horse Whisperer" that really illustrates this. A horse named Pilgrim had to be broken to learn to trust again. Sometimes, God ties up a leg in our lives, so to speak, until we finally surrender and trust Him.
Living a faith-filled life isn't about having it all figured out. It's about surrendering control and trusting God, even when it's hard. Jesus said in Matthew 5 that those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who are meek, and who hunger for righteousness are blessed. It takes faith to live that way.
If you're tired of trying to control everything, I encourage you to lay it down and trust God. He's got you. And if you've never accepted Jesus as your Savior, there's no better time than now. He loves you and wants to give you a fresh start.
Thanks for reading, and remember, we're all in this together. Let's keep growing in faith and trusting God with our lives.
Blessings,
Pastor Marc
