Faith for the Road Ahead: Finding God's Faithfulness Through Every Season
Mount Rushmore, Black Hills, South Dakota
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5–6
As our country celebrates 250 years, I am reminded of another kind of faith that carries us through every season of life.
The hymn below, now in the public domain, was written by Frederick William Faber (1814-1863) with music by Henri Frederick Hemy (1818-1888) and later adapted by James George Walton (1821-1905). Its message of faith that shows a strong commitment by our forefathers to God seems especially fitting as we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States.
Faith of Our Fathers
Listen here: Faith of Our Fathers
Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword,
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free;
And blest would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them should die for thee:
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then indeed be free.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Wouldn’t our Founding Fathers be amazed that this country has survived 250 years? I think they would be extremely proud to know that our country has grown through freedom to be what it is today. That isn’t to say America hasn’t had its challenges, trials, devastating events, and more, but through it all we have persevered.
Those who gave or spent their lives in service for our country are people we should never forget. And we owe much of our country’s success to those Founding Fathers who put together a sound constitution and Declaration of Independence so we would have the freedoms we enjoy today. They had faith in God for the road ahead. While I pray our nation grows its faith in God, I am also saddened by some of the steps backward we have taken, away from what our forefathers meant for this country. Nevertheless, I believe God has been with us through it all and will continue to be as long as we believe in His promises and follow His Word.
The Road None of Us Expected
While our forefathers made plans for the direction our country should go, few of us would have imagined that our lives would play out exactly the way they have. There isn’t a person in this world who hasn’t experienced loss, illness, anxiety, broken dreams, or even unexpected blessings.
Those early life dreams we have as kids or teenagers may not turn out quite like we hope, but life doesn’t always follow the journey we plan. Even as adults, we don’t always give up our dreams, unless we come to the realization that they are unrealistic or fantasies.
I Corinthians 10:31 tells us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (NIV) God’s plans are for our best and for His glory.
Looking Back Helps Us Recognize God’s Faithfulness
According todictionary.com, faithfulness is “lasting loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships, especially marriage and friendship.” The Biblical meaning, according to BibleHub.com, God “assures believers of His unwavering commitment to His promises and His people.”
Remembering God’s faithfulness in our lives gives us a true picture of God’s care in our trials, losses, grief, and disappointments. This matters, because we can move forward through difficulties by remembering how God cared for us in the past.
Especially as citizens of this country, we have hopefully learned lessons from history, even though they might only become visible after time has passed. We learn the same way in our own lives – through remembrance.
Every Season Teaches Us Something
As we get older, we have many more experiences to draw from. For example, going through grief may teach us compassion for others. As difficult as it may be, we learn patience through waiting, and waiting can be years long. Sometimes we don’t see the results of our prayers in this lifetime.
We can learn dependence on God and others when we suffer from worry or anxiety. And through the disappointments we suffer in life, we may just get a lesson in surrender to God. After all, we really aren’t in control of circumstances; we are only in control of how we react.
Finally, we can learn to be grateful in all circumstances. Joy in our souls is the foundation for feeling gratitude. By that, I mean that knowing Christ personally can bring a deep down joy that nothing can shake. While we may suffer in this world, having the joy of a relationship with Christ helps us sort out what is truly important. We can learn from every trial, pain, and disappointment.
God Never Leaves the Journey
Many of you have heard the song about how God is already there. That means that God knows our trials before we experience them. He isn’t just waiting there; he is walking the journey with us. While we travel this pathway called life, He is doing His greatest work. Whether we follow Him or not is our choice. I truly hope you follow Him through a personal relationship with Him. All you have to do is tell Him you want that by praying those words. Then seek Him out in the Scriptures, which He provided for us in this life.
As I look back at my life, I realize NOW that God was with me through each twist and turn. Many of them were incredibly painful, and I honestly thought He had deserted me. I cried out in pain, yet all I heard was silence. Silence can be as loud as anything when you are waiting for answers. Once I made it through those trials, such as losing my daddy in an accident and losing my sister to cancer, I could look back and see His presence at different times. Daddy and my sister still died, but God gave me peace in knowing they were in heaven (They both had personal relationships with God and believed in His salvation on the cross). He also provided little pieces of love, just when I needed them.
Preparing for Roads We Haven’t Traveled Yet
Now I know that because God has been faithful before in my life through death and grief, through disappointment and relationship issues, and through anguish over events, I can trust Him when future trials come – and they will. No, I don’t know what tomorrow will bring (and I still worry as an imperfect human being), but I know He will be there, traveling this journey with me, showing me which pathway leads to Him.
When I start to think the worst when it comes to my family’s lives, including worries about my adult children and grandchildren, our country, our world, and my future, I need to look back and remember how God took care of me, of us. When Daddy died, God gave us flat tires so we wouldn’t drive out to the field where Daddy was killed. My grandparents arrived at just the right time to give us the news and bring the care of family to us.
When my sister died of ovarian cancer, God gave our family time together so my sister could share things she wanted to say to us. He gave me time with her in hospice, and I spent her last night in her room with her. I was there when she took her final breath.
During health problems of my own, God took care of the pain during difficult nights and eventually helped the doctors with a diagnosis that could be treated. These issues brought about multiple surgeries through at least 20 years, but I always felt His peace when He brought me through them.
Faith Isn’t Knowing the Whole Road
Most of you have experienced health issues, relationship problems, death of loved ones, and more. Please understand that I, too, struggle with trials. This is not to say I can just roll along through difficulty. If anything, I find myself dragging when my faith is tested. I question God, and yes, sometimes I even share my anger with Him. But that’s what faith is.
God does not turn away at our questions or anger; instead, He welcomes our questions. Remember that He, too, walked on this earth as a man at one time. He understands our feelings. He faced temptation when Satan tried to overcome Him in the wilderness. And He gave His life for us (in unimaginable pain) so that we could live with Him forever in heaven. Faith means ultimately trusting the One who has control. Jesus knows our fears and comes to us in a relationship like no other.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” – Psalm 34:17-19 (ESV)
The Road Ahead
So what are we to do when new trials arise? As we journey through our lives, we will definitely come to sharp turns, hills where we can’t see around the corners, and u-turns we never imagined we would be making.
But by looking in the rearview mirror, I have learned that God has never left me. Every step I’ve taken has shown me another reason to trust Him. So I’ll keep driving forward, not because I can see the future, but because I know He is with me, come what may.
Reflection Question
Do you see God’s faithfulness in your life when you look back at past or even current trials?
Simple Activity
On a piece of paper, draw a simple road.
Beside the road, write five times you saw God provide, protect, comfort, or guide you.
Leave the road unfinished and hang it somewhere you can look at it from time to time.
At the top, write: “God is still writing my story.”
When difficulties arise, go back and look at the times you listed God’s provision, protection, comfort, or guidance.
Pray that He will help you trust Him once again as you face a new trial.
Breath Prayer
Inhale: You have been faithful.
Exhale: Lead me forward.
Closing Hope
When we remember God’s faithfulness in every trial in our lives that we have faced, we can move forward knowing He will continue to be with us.
