EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
Faith will prepare us for adversity

By A. Lee Totten

I'm always looking for ways to express my faith. Reading the daily news makes it difficult to maintain that faith, but maintain it we must.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he reward those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family" (Hebrews 11:6-7, New International Version).

Genesis 6:9 states that "Noah was a righteous man."

However, all his prayers could not stop the flood from coming. Instead, his faith before God helped him prepare his family to come through the flood.

And as for Joseph, "Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them." (Genesis 41:29-30.)

Because of Pharaoh's dream, Joseph was also warned. Again, Joseph could not pray away the famine that was coming. However, his faith before God caused him to gather the grain for all of his people.

Jesus, too, could not pray away the cross. Instead, he prayed the strength to go through it.

"Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet, not what I will, but what you will." (Mark 14:36.)

What is interesting is what really happened in the garden of Gethsemane. "Yet, not what I will, but what you will." One "will" belonged to Jesus, the other to the father. Jesus laid down his will and accepted that of his father.

All three of these godly men laid down their will, trusting that their faith before God would accomplish the work set before them.

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." (Matthew 24:6.)

Now, it seems that we, too, are standing in the garden and we must find the will of our father. That once again we may help prepare a people for what is to come.

That is the expression of our faith today.

"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9.)

A. Lee Totten is with The Ministry of the Missing Piece and a certified Christian wellness counselor.

Expressions of Faith is a column that welcomes submissions from pastors, priests, lay workers and other leaders in faith and spirituality. E-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 525-8035. Articles submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.