‘Great Faith’ or ‘Great Naivety’

When I first announced a few years back that my wife and I would set out to plant a church with our newborn son people had all sorts of reactions. I was taken aback by one response in particular when people would comment “Wow, Jonathan you must have such great faith to trust that God will provide every need you will have.” It would take some difficult experiences to discover a truly deeper level of faith. Now, nearly four years later I understand the difficulties of finding a place to worship, coordinating multiple ministries through volunteers, financial pressures and emotions like failure and discouragement to name a few challenges I realize now that I didn’t have ‘great faith’ but ‘great naivety’. Understanding the depth of the challenge presented me with a great question as the challenges in your life today present you with a similar question which is “now that I am aware of the mountain that stands before me will I continue to trust?” You see, it’s easy to trust when we are ignorant, but when your worst fear becomes your newest reality will you continue to have faith? The mountain in your life may be sickness, depression, financial disaster, addiction or a relationship that seems to be shipwrecked. God is not shocked by your seemingly impossible situation. God is faithful to walk with you through the pain and strengthen you through your journey. Faith is to stand face to face with the enormity of the mountain and still believe our God is greater!