The Secret to Building Your Faith

Let me share a secret with you. Real life examples of faithful people help build our faith. Don't they?I have a stash of stories of faithful people--real people--that I refer to often in my mind, to remind me of what's possible, and what can be done in hopeless situations. These stories give me hope and faith every day. You want to know what they are and where to find them?The B.I.B.L.E. And if you don't have a bible, you can look up anything at biblegateway.com, my online go-to source.Here are a few examples:If you're struggling financially, the book of Proverbs is a storehouse of financial wisdom. And the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) are filled with examples of God's provision.If you are facing infertility, read about Sarah, who had a son when she was 90. Or Elizabeth, who also had a child late in life. Or Rachel, who begged the Lord for children, and the Lord heard her and gave her two sons. Or Hannah, who had a son as a result of a promise she made to God. The Bible is filled with examples of infertile women who prayed for children--and God heard and answered them.And don't forget that sometimes children are given to us by God through adoption. Remember that even Joseph adopted Jesus! Might I suggest that infertility can be seen as a gift that draws us toward adopting fatherless (and motherless) children--children whom Jesus loves.If you're struggling in your marriage, again, Proverbs is a slam dunk on learning how we (ladies in particular) might be sabotaging our own marriages, and solutions to end the spiral down. 1 Peter 3 is also one of my favorites on what to do when things aren't going well. It's good to remember that often our obedience in the face of hopeless obstacles is the key to turning things around. Our obedience=results.If you need healing: The gospels, Psalms, as well as the stories of Naaman, (2 Kings 5), Hezekiah, (2 Kings 20), and Elijah and the widow's son (1 Kings 17:17-24), are all faith-builders when praying for healing.If you wonder if God cares about your unique situation, read 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. He cares. And He can help.If you've been praying and praying and praying and you wonder if God hears: Read James 5:16-18 about Elijah, a persistent prayer warrior.If someone you love has died, read how God comforted Isaac when his mom died. God comforted David and Bathsheba after their newborn died. Even Jesus was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, and wept at Lazarus' grave. He cares about your grief and is with you in it.The Bible is a wealth of hope and help for any situation. And when you learn more about the Author of the Bible, the greater your faith in Him becomes, which is the greatest gift of all. Sit down, open your Bible and see your faith grow.