One of the definitions of "leap", is the word hurdle. This implies a barrier, obstacle, hindrance or difficulty. Isn't it when we are up against one of these, that we turn towards our Faith to sustain us, guide us, and comfort us as well? I believe Faith is simply a connection to God, and all things spiritual; angels, and past relatives and friends who have moved on from this life. In our dire times of need, our Faith comes out of the closet, where it has been waiting while all has been going well, and reinforces us with the determination we need to work out our fears. We then feel we are being protected, which gives us the strength we need to move forward in a positive direction.
Faith seems to be automatically ingrained within our souls, but I believe it takes experience to fully appreciate what we possess within. If we are exposed to the idea of Faith from an early age, each situation that demands us to rely on this feeling of divine connection, strengthens our belief in this gift. Even as young children, we get the idea of Faith simply by hoping for the toy we want for our birthday, or the game we want for Christmas. If our parents have linked that hope with the meaning of Faith, we can carry that idea with us throughout our lives. It is the most powerful and comforting feeling we can use for support within our own Being.
What exactly is Faith? To me, it is the connection I feel from within to the Creator. It is a belief that He exists, and can help me because He can hear the words in my mind, and the compassion in my soul. I can talk to Him in my head, at a church, out loud, whenever, wherever. This enables me to stay in daily contact. Sometimes, that contact is minute to minute, or hour to hour. I feel as if God knows everything, and feels all, so when one of His children is in pain, He suffers as well. We might be unknowingly praying for the wrong thing to happen. As a parent, God must also let His children suffer through their mistakes. Sometimes, that's the only way to learn.
Even though we may be going through a painful experience, true faith tells us it is for our own good, and really the only way left to get us to absorb concepts we have refused to let into our mindsets. This realization helps us accept our circumstances, and work them out to the best of our ability. Our strength comes from the Faith we have collected throughout our lives. Whether we are open to it or not, proof of our prayers being heard come when the scenario we prayed about is answered. We must also, then, surmise that when we pray about something that is not for our own good, or the good of all involved, it isn't going to happen. Faith comes in when you understand that maybe it wasn't the best reasoning, and you need to come up with another request.
Of course, scientists could explain all of this away, but I have felt the comfort of relief after praying, and talking with God, and it can only be explained to me in one way, He was listening, and I was talking. I know stubbornness, and I know others who possess this gift, or hindrance, depending on which way you use this character trait. Sometimes, when we are too stubborn, and keep hitting ourselves in the head, but won't stop, our Father has to allow us to go through the pain until we can improve the way we think and handle ourselves. This is where the true test of Faith comes in, when one is feeling empty and depressed degraded, shameful, and confused. Do we blame it on God, or do we know in our minds that we had to learn lessons that were beneficial to us, and yet, we didn't know how to figure them out correctly at the time?
Do we have Faith that this is the reason? Do we thank God for letting us go out on our own, so we'd be forced to reevaluate our thinking, our way of living, and change it to a better way? This is where our "Leap of Faith" needs to be the strongest. In our deepest despair, no human being can comfort or love us as much as our Creator. How long we stay in our Hell on Earth is really up to us. Even if it is a physically painful problem, a tragedy, a death, an ending to a relationship, the way we approach what we go through is paramount to the state of mind in which we live. I believe that state of mind depends on the amount of honesty we put into our Faith. Is it only applicable in times of distress? Does it not exist if our prayers aren't seemingly answered, and we are suffering? Is God only "good" when things work out the way we want? It is in our times of heartache and pain that we must make that Leap of Faith and remember who our Father is, and that He wants what is best for us, even when we don't agree!
