the Faithful Q&A

Dearest Beloved Reader,

Here are some questions texted and DMed to me on regards of faith and everything in between!!! Enjoy reading, enjoy exploring. Many more posts to come!!!

Q: Has social media, mostly Instagram, impacted your faith walk at all? Has it brought you closer or father away from God?

A: Me personally, Instagram has done both at different times but has ultimately helped me grow closer. I say 'both' because at one point I was quite consumed in Instagram and 'the look' and the number and wondering if posts were all color coordinated (that's toooo much!). I think to some degree we all struggle with some aspect of it. But it has taught me so much about people, since social media is a huge part of our society today. It almost seems we depend on it too much and it has taught me so much about overcoming putting my value and worth into something other than God. Sometimes obstacles are placed in our way so that we can find a way through it, even if it seems something as useless and little as social media. Trust me, it's trapped a lot of this world!

Q: When life really gets you down, how do you keep your faith through it all?

A: "Life is tough, but I've got a God who is tougher." "Don't tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big your God is." These are two very cliche yet super important mindsets to have when battling all of the heavy weight that brings you down. And there's a lot out there. But through it all, we are called to keep God at the mere center of it all and to REMIND ourselves just how big, how strong, how tough, how vast, how powerful God really is. I remember a girl asking me, what if you've told God all your issues, and they're big big problems, but nothing has happened? And the reality of it is, don't you think God knows!? Don't you think God knows what is going on!? He is omnipotent AND omnipresent. He is everywhere and He knows everything! He knows what you're going through first and foremost. God knows. And I find comfort in that. He knows. He is in control. If I am walking in His light, in His plan, in His character, doing what I know I need to do, the rest is left in the Hands of a Father who loves. And if He loved you so much He would send His own Son to die for you, don't you think He'd do what is best for you? Even if you can't see it now and wont' see it for another 2 years or 6 months or even in the next life. He loves you. Never doubt that.

Q: Do you ever doubt your faith?

A: I guess if you're asking have I ever doubted God, I would say yes. Not that He exists, but more of doubt in 'God is this really what I am suppose to be doing?' or 'God is this really the person, is this really the place, is this really the performance, the calling?' I don't doubt my belief in God, I sometimes have a shaky trust in His plan. I'm human, I am faulty, I want my way, I want what I want, I have desires that I struggle with. And I do fall to those struggles, to the doubt sometimes. God knows, He knows we aren't perfect. That is His job. He is perfect. We are out here doing the absolute best to be our absolute best for the Kingdom, to glorify Him in anything and everything we do.

Q: How do you ask someone who isn't into church to come to church with you?

A: I am a very casual gal. I won't force and I don't easily get too aggressive about this topic because I know it takes time. Have patience!! Lots of patience because the person you are inviting may say no, but it's a no for now. I always slip it into conversation, like talking about my Sunday and how fun the people are and the place. And then I'll say "Hey, you should come to with me sometime!" or "Hey, what are you doing this Sunday!?" or "Hey, my church is putting on a show/performance/night of worship/fun bash, wanna come!?" I think if you keep it light and fun, it will be receive as an invitation rather than a trap. Know that they may say no, and that's okay. Don't give up on them. Keep sliding it in, not every single day, or that becomes too much. But once in a while, ask. And be praying for them. Perhaps an invitation will happen at the right moment for an unseen reason by you that they desperately needed.

Q: Do you do Bible reading plans or just pick random parts and study it that way?

A: I usually go off a topic that I want to know more about. So I'll pick worth or trust or strength and I'll go off those topics. I'll research them and find verses on them, I'll see what speakers have to say about the topic. YOUTUBE and the Bible are my best friends when researching a topic because there is so much out there. Now heed my warning, not all of it is Biblical based. Some teachings are lead astray but some are pure truth. You have to really know God's Word and what scripture says. There's a lot to learning, but I definitely pick plans and pick topics!!!

Q: Why do you love the Lord? Was there are story? A miracle moment? Were you going to church growing up?

A: My love for God has grown exponentially through not really a singular event but just multiple events. My freshman year I struggled with defining my worth. I knew that God loved me, but I had not fully discovered and uncovered all He really says about me. I figured out a part of my purpose, and it gave me a passion. I fell in love with creation in the recent years and that has grown my love for the Lord exponentially. Like incredibly. I see all He has made and I am in awe. This passion came from my trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee a year and a half ago. We spent four days in the mountains in a cabin and it was the most magnificent thing I have seen. I travelled a lot when I was younger. A lot a lot. We've been all over as a family, out west to Colorado and California and Arizona and South Dakota, to up north and somehow my eyes were unveiled and suddenly I saw creation for what it was --simply beautiful. No words could describe my awe. God was wooing me. He has given me a desire to chase after and see all He has made and the more I see, the more I keep my eyes open, the more I look, the more I fall in love.

Q: How do you go about reading your Bible/diving deeper into it?

A: Research, research, research. I have a study Bible and that helps a lot because it references back to other verses and it defines some words that we don't hear anymore or it gives background on certain areas. And research on the computer helps a ton. Looking up translations for words from Hebrew and Greek and finding the meaning. I think it takes practice and it takes time. Prayers for wisdom is huge because God will always grant wisdom to those who ask, wisdom to discover and do the right things. Sometimes I journal to write down certain verses that stick out and I highlight a lot. Comment your thoughts on passages and verses!! That helps a TON!!

Q: How do you radiate joy when you don't feel joyful yourself?

A: Joy is a condition of the heart that is not based on mere circumstance. Happiness and joy are two completely different things. And while another post will be written on this in depth, joy is the condition of our heart. It is the contentment and gratitude and hope in God even when life is not going too great, even when your boy broke up with you, or your girl cheated, or you didn't get that grade or into that college, or you missed an opportunity. Joy is an everyday fight to be content, to be satisfied in God and God alone. Not on how much money you have, or how many friends you have or what you ate or what you want to buy. Happiness is effected by these things, but joy? Contentment in God. Pursue God and discover all the blessings, gifts and promises HE has made for you. I promise you, you will find joy and you'll hold onto it forever as you keep His words in your heart.

Q: What are some ways to show love even when you're not friends?

A: Simple kindness goes a long way. To strangers, just smiling, maybe paying for something for someone, helping someone carry their things, acts of kindness go a long way. But for those who you are not friends with because you have found yourself at odds with them at some point, that is a little harder to do, being kind to them. Show love to them as you would love yourself. We treat ourselves right. We keep our bodies clean, we want to look good, feel good, we buy ourselves food and clothes and we relax. We take care of ourselves better than anyone else. Treat all like that. Be kind, in the face of adversity. When you don't feel like it, when it looks hard, when it seems embarrassing, humble yourself. For your reward may not be here, but in Heaven.

Q:What are some good ways you've found to ask God to speak into your life?

A: One of my great friend's told me this story about Samuel. " Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.  So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. " (1 Samuel 3:7-11) I won't go so far into depth on these verses just yet (I am writing a whole post on these verses specifically because they are dear to my heart) but Samuel's response to the Lord is exactly what we need to say in our own lives if you want God to actively move! We have to be ready, be listening, be wanting after God's own heart and His own plan. If we do not stop to take time to listen and learn, we will never see the hand of God working. We won't know what to do, what to look for, who to become. So even pray that simple prayer. "Speak, Lord, for YOUR servant is listening. What is it You are asking of me? What opportunities?" Keep your eyes open, your mind clear, your feet ready to do because God will call and you need to be ready to answer!

Q: How do you stay strong in your faith?

A: Everyone [Christian faith] has a different faith. Same belief in Jesus but different walk. My faith journey has been a roller coaster of disappointment and hurt, stress and anxiety. But I think what has let me land back on top is always the knowledge, hope and belief that God is for me, not against me. Reading through the Bible has helped a lot because it a huge love story between God and His people. No matter how many times the Israelites' messed up, no matter how many times the lady committed adultery, He loved. It's insane to read about and even more insane to apply to myself and my faith because WOW I don't deserve it and I couldn't earn it. But still, He loved.

I hope this helped a lot!!! Leave a comment, leave a question, let me know what you hope to see in the future!! I have huge hopes for this. Thank you!

with a mountainous love,

leah