Unimaginable Faith: The Beginning

There comes a point where the Holy Spirit's calling on your life begins to tug at you so hard that you are forced into a decision. You either answer the call and dive in the deep end in complete faith, or you continue to exhibit the ultimate lack of faith that is ignoring the Holy Spirit's clear attempts to guide you into your calling. Today marks the beginning of yet another season of our lives. A season where we have decided to stop ignoring the call. A season where we begin to share our ongoing pursuit of a faith unimaginable.

Last night, after our life group had ended, my wife and I were discussing areas of our lives that we have been hoarding in some ways. The subject for the night's study was everyone's favorite, money. As a group we had discussed many different aspects of the subject. My wife had brought up several situations where we had been faithful to the Holy Spirit’s lead in our life, but we were also transparent about areas where we had fallen short in our pursuit of God in this area. As we reflected on the night, we began to discuss how we utilize our time for the Gospel as well. Then the question my beautiful wife so often asks came up once again.... "When are you going to start writing?"

See, several months ago I felt the calling on my life to utilize my free time to begin sharing our faith journey in some way. I didn't know if that was through writing a book, or traveling and telling my story or any of a dozen other things, but I knew whatever it was scared the living daylights out of me. Those that know me at all know that I am a very outgoing and transparent person. I'm not shy. I'm not bashful. But something about this idea presented fear in my life. Lack of faith allowed the enemy to use uncertainty to become victorious over me in this area. "What if nobody reads it?" "What about our story makes us any different?" "Why would anyone be interested in our experience of our pursuit of God?" Questions that, at the end of the day, truly do not matter.

At one point I felt the calling on my life to such an extent, that I found myself in my office, typing away. Randomly inputting stories and memories and beginning to collect thoughts about seasons of our life that we wanted to share. It lasted one night. Hours into this activity I felt the Holy Spirit intensely. I don't think I could describe this feeling as well as a member of our life group did last night in reference to something else. Rachel had mentioned the memories of summer church camp. The Thursday night services where the band is going all out and the camp counselors are hugging the crying camp goers. The spirit is moving, and Jesus is in the air. Now the unfortunate side of summer church camp is that the follow up is oftentimes non-existent, and we find ourselves quickly drifting back to our normal society conforming ways. In the same regard, that feeling presented a state of fear that dug to the core of my soul. "What if this does create life change in someone else?" "What if whatever this becomes works, and lives are reached?" Somehow these thoughts of having an impact had the opposite effect. I became terrified of the responsibility and just as quickly as I began writing that night, I stopped instantly when these thoughts rushed over me.

I knew that this would mean becoming vulnerable in a way I never have. Opening up about events in our life that were extremely difficult to get through, but that ultimately birthed a faith that can only be described as unimaginable. Fast forward again to last night. As I sat there convicted by the amount of free time I have currently, I began to ask myself why have I continued to ignore the calling God has placed on my life? Why do I not trust God to clear the path and guide this to wherever he wants it to go? That quickly turned into, Why not now?

Almost every great thing or experience begins by taking a risk. Whether it is putting ourselves out there in a social situation, or allowing ourselves to be vulnerable in a brand new way. Well, today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our lives and the birth of "Unimaginable Faith". A risk that I have known I've needed to take for quite some time but I have allowed fear to shut the door again and again. Today marks the day where I begin to share our story of the ongoing pursuit of truly Unimaginable Faith.

As a couple we ask you for your prayers at this time. Prayers that God leads us into this calling in whatever way he sees fit. Prayers that we listen and react in full faith. Prayers that above all else, he remains in control of our lives and the focal point of everything along the way. This is truly a "Jesus Take the Wheel'' moment in our lives.

So we invite you on this journey, in whichever form it takes, of Unimaginable Faith.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28 NLT)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)