Anna Moore

A lot has happened since I last posted.

The biggest thing was getting a new job in September, which I started in October. I’m not going to exaggerate when I say I have been praying for a better job for years. My former job wasn’t bad, it was just not a good fit for me and caused a lot of unnecessary stress, fatigue and general discontentment. I was really trying to find something that offered more to me and my family, and I’m not only talking financially. Since my last semester in college, I have wanted a full-time job that makes me feel like I’m meant to be there. A feeling of purpose, I guess. I never wanted to work in the news industry, I just happened to land there because of what was most convenient for me and my skill-set after college. But, God is faithful, and he has taught me so much this year about that so I’d love to share with you.

I prayed many times and in many, many ways pertaining to work and vocation. I prayed for clarity, opportunity, and direction. I prayed for patience, contentment, and growth. I prayed for specific jobs. I prayed for vague job descriptions I thought I wanted. I prayed mad. I prayed sad. I prayed through tears. I prayed through confusion. I prayed through hope. I prayed with joy. If that isn’t the Christian life right there. Hills and valleys, friends. 🙂

The Lord answered ALL of those prayers in one way or another. He closed doors and He opened doors. At one point, my husband and I found ourselves choosing not to accept what seemed like a dream job for me in Illinois. God had better plans. Eventually, in His timing and in His perfect way, He opened a door for me locally and I accepted the job. Two months into the new job, and I’ve felt assurance that it’s the right place for me, at least in this season of my life. I didn’t feel that in the four years I worked at my former job.

Through it all, the last few years have been a season I hope I never forget. I pray I’m marked by the way God delivered me from whatever form of personal suffering I was dealing with.

So what changed a few months ago when I got offered and accepted a new job? My faith.

I remember telling a dear friend about what I had been struggling with one weekend. She already knew the struggle as she had also been praying for me, but on this particular day, my circumstances weighed extra heavy and I just needed to get some things off my chest. She was gracious enough, and wise enough, to tell me I needed more faith in God.

So she didn’t actually come out and say that, but she didn’t have to.

She would ask about the kind of opportunities I wanted and what steps to take to get there, and I would make an excuse for them.

“Is God not capable of X,Y,Z?” she asked.

Yikes. There I was putting God in a box.

Of course, this led to a great conversation about what faith is and Who God is. I realized I had been having small faith. Did I not trust God? Did I not understand that He is the One in control, the all-powerful, all-knowing God? At the core of it, I don’t think I did. Oof.

From that day forward, I’ve been more aware of this fact: God is God. He is sovereign and omnipotent. He is able to move mountains. He is able to do anything He wants. He’s GOD.

(How wonderful is it that the Holy Spirit allows us to realize these things? And how God uses people in our lives to speak truth to us…amazing!)

All of the Bible tells us about Who God is. We learn about His character and His attributes all throughout it. We learn He is trustworthy. We see in real moments through real people how God intervenes and helps and saves and provides and protects and loves. He still does all of those things. Did I not really believe He would do those things for me, one of His own?

Am I like Moses?

In Exodus 4, Moses basically tells God he doesn’t feel good enough for the job the LORD has asked him to take on, which was to lead the Israelites into the land God had promised to give His people.

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

Exodus 4:10-12 ESV

The LORD uses supernatural acts to prove to Moses that God is capable of being enough for Moses and helping him through his circumstances. God is capable of equipping Moses for leading the Israelites. Am I not just like Moses in this story? (This is me asking myself). By questioning my own abilities, am I not also questioning the Lord’s abilities? Is God not always with me? Did He not create the world and make me the way I am without a plan or purpose? Is He no longer able to do impossible (to us) things? Those are real questions I thought when my friend asked me about my situation.

It really made me reflect on what faith is.

So, what is faith?

Sometimes when people say “you just have to have faith,” I think they are referring to faith of self. “You just have to believe,” they say. But, believe in what? What is the point of putting my faith in myself when I’m imperfect and fall short by the minute? Why not put my trust in someone much better/greater/more powerful who I can always depend on? Yes, believing in yourself is important and inspirational and sounds just great. But, if you are a born-again Christian and you are only ever putting your trust in yourself, I think you may have missed the point – just like me – on what faith is. Are we the ones in control? Can we see the big picture and truly control what happens in our lives? No. Not even a little bit. But we know and have access to the One who is and who can.

The Bible teaches us in Hebrews 11:1 that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith gives confidence. Faith gives purpose. Even when you can’t see it or understand it, trusting in God’s plan and abilities is having faith. This is required of us who call Him Lord. We may not see it, but we KNOW it. We trust Him, because we KNOW Him.

The thing about Christianity is that it’s okay to have questions. You can ask God why, how, when. If the answers aren’t found in God’s word — supplemented with prayer and meditation — you aren’t guaranteed understanding on this side of Heaven. But that’s when having faith in Him plays a part. Instead of asking why or how or when, you remind your heart and soul Who. Who is in control? Who has the ability to change this? Who knows how this is going to turn out? Who can we trust with this?

A.W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” When we think about God, are we remembering that He is merciful, loving, all-powerful, all-knowing, unchanging and holy? Or, are we comparing our human abilities and attributes with His divine nature?

God is either God to you, or He’s not. He is either able to move mountains to you, or He’s not. Friend, let me just tell you, He IS able to move that mountain, but we have no understanding of how or when He will do it, if he chooses to. Odds are, the mountain is meant to draw us into a closer relationship with Him and to transform us more into Christ-likeness. It’s meant to be a growing opportunity, and we are always growing. We know from all the things we are told of God from the Bible – all of His promises, all the prophecies, etc. – that He is trustworthy. And we know our hope lies in an eternity we are promised to have with Him. He is our hope. It will get better.

Matthew Henry compares faith with hope: “Faith and hope go together; and the same things that are the object of our hope are the object of our faith.”

In the Advent devotional I’m reading this year, Pastor John Piper writes: “…if you want what Jesus has to give, you can’t buy it. You can’t trade for it. You can’t work for it. He already owns your money and everything you have. And when you work, it is only because he has given you life and breath and everything. All we can do is submit to his spectacular offer to be our servant. And this submission is called faith — a willingness to let him be God. Trust him to be the Supplier, the Strengthener, the Counselor, the Guide, the Savior. And be satisfied with that — with all that God is for us in Jesus. That’s what faith is. And having that is what it means to be a Christian.” So good.

So, on this day, in this moment, where are you putting your faith? Is God great enough to you to get you through whatever you’re going through, likely pruning you along the way to become a better reflection of Him? Or, are you relying on your own strength to get yourself through this season?

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10

Consider who God is to you and then consider what you are longing for in this season. First of all, does it align with God’s will? If you are unsure, ask yourself if it aligns with God’s character.

Then ask, is God capable of answering those prayers? Is He capable of exceeding your expectations?

I believe He can surely do it. Now, that we know He can, we just have to trust that He will.

This is what I’m learning about faith: it requires trust in God’s character. Knowing who He is, and trusting who He says he is, changes EVERYTHING.

As you can tell, there’s a lot to discuss about faith, so I’m going to leave you with some verses to meditate on.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9

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