a leap of faith

Leap of Faith! 
By Joyce Pelletier 
Hebrews 11:1-2 - “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible...” 
I invite you to read all of Chapter 11 of Hebrews and see what “Faith” is all about. It’s more than just this chapter. It is a whole gamut of what God’s Word tells us from page one to the end of the book, that never stops giving its message.  
Granted we see page after page of truth and words repeated over and over again. It is interesting to consider that one person reads the first verse of this chapter. Another picks up and reads it and sees something different. The same but different.  
The written Word is consistent with what God wants us to read about, hear and follow through with.  
The essence of Chapter 11 is about so many different people from the Bible experiencing similar, yet different set of circumstances. The key word is Faith. What does it tell us? How did each person mentioned respond to what it says?  
I think it’s safe to say, that God has His influence on what is said, how each individual had to say and respond.  
On our Marriage Encounter Weekend forty plus years ago, it was implied that Love is a Choice. It meant that no matter what a couple might go through it meant if they disagreed with one another but turn to love the other with regards to what Love is described to be in God’s word. If the couple was looking to be tuned in, it with the choice here, and a decision had to be made, it would all come out the way it should. But if one spouse disagreed enough to make a decision that wasn’t mutual and became a “sore” spot, the relationship could be marred and cause the discord to go too deep in the wrong direction.  
In the case of the word ‘’Faith,” it too is a choice. Each of the people in Chapter 11 had a choice of choosing to respond in trust and faith, whatever God intended turned out the way it should.  
I recently had an experience that showed me to act in faith and leave the answer to what God had in mind.  
I received a message from an old friend, whom I hadn’t seen since the late 1970’s. We were close to this family, but after we moved away, we lost contact, and it was now 2023 when I received this email.  
This friendship was different, yet the dynamics changed and attitudes from me were rather guarded and somewhat apprehensive and uncertain. I didn’t know how to respond. There were things about this person that questioned my trust in our friendship.  
I strongly felt I needed to respond to this friend’s email. I prayed for a few days and asked God what and how I was to respond. I felt a strong sense of God asking me to be Kind and compassionate like Ephesians says about our character when communicating with others. I felt strongly about writing a letter of patience and compassion and in a spirit of God’s love. I shared what I felt God wanted me to say and let it go at that.  
I wrote the response and let it go. I figured after I sent the button to send, it was a s done deal. Several days later, I received a response that made me sit down and read what he had to say.  
Later we connected via phone and carried on the conversation and my anxiety of some of what I wanted to share would be negative, especially about leaving the traditional church we were part of in our early “born again” experience. I thought he would be angry, not understanding and expected judgment. I received none of that.  
In my efforts to be kind, compassionate, loving came back the same way. What surprised me more was the facts of his understanding for making the changes in our lives.  
What started out to be a step of faith, became a leap of trust that helped both of us open the doors to each of our lives. No judgment as we both felt strongly about our lives committed to following Christ in the manner in which we both felt led to go.  
My prayer for all of us is, “Father, God, in our world of new friends, old friends, life-changing ideals, show us the paths in which you want us to be on. No matter what happens, to know how we can move forward in prayer of faith, trusting the inspiration you give us and for us to speak lovingly choosing faith in your call, and trusting in the outcome to your amazing will. We also pray that our roadmap stays focused on our faith in you and not our intention to do it our way. In your precious name. Amen” 

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