Listen, For Faith's Sake

A Reflection on the Second Reading for August 11th, 2019:
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

HEBREWS 11:1-2, 8-19

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old received divine approval. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named." 19 He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

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Working full time, driver’s training, going to the gym, hanging out with friends, going to church, seeing my boyfriend, appointments, applying for jobs for September, volunteering, looking for more volunteering, job interviews…

This is just a brief list of some of last week’s events. 

I feel exhausted and drained. Reflecting on this last week, I am realizing that I tend to try to do everything all at once. I most definitely have a plan for myself. But by the way I am feeling right now, it’s becoming quite clear that my plan for my life does not always line up with God’s plan for my life. God’s plan for my life, if followed, would not result in feeling burnt out and defeated. 

It seems to me like I am trying to put all of my faith in myself, and not in God. What a mistake that is! And clearly I am learning my lesson from that now. This exhaustion is proof that I need God and I need to surrender all of my worries and my long list of “to-dos” over to Him. Relying solely on myself never fails to get me in a rough situation like this. But only having faith in ourselves and only looking inward for success and accomplishment can cause us to ignore God and what He may be trying to tell us. 

"[O]nly having faith in ourselves and only looking inward for success and accomplishment can cause us to ignore God and what He may be trying to tell us." 

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This scripture passage is about faith and how having faith in God allows all obstacles to be conquered and even for miracles to happen. I’m sure that Abraham and Sarah didn’t always feel completely hopeful about their situation, like most of us at times. But they kept their faith in the Lord. Through having faith in God, we are promised a sense of joy and fulfillment. He has gifts for us if we only listen. And I really haven’t been listening lately. I really feel like this scripture was a timely reminder from God to me, telling me to slow down and take some time to spend with Him and for Him. Maybe He is trying to tell you that too. 

Let us Pray:
I pray that I can place all of my faith in God. He has a great plan for me that will not fail, but will bring hope and prosperity. But it is up to me to follow that. I also pray that I have the will to remember to choose Him each day and make Him a part of my “to-dos”. Amen.


​Megan Noye​

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