As a child, I watched my grandmother and grandfather face their share of sorrows from the death of their middle son in Vietnam at the age of 19, to my mother at her young age of 28. I recall their attitudes as they watched some of their children make great strides in life while they had to endure the stress and anxiety of watching others take a path they would not have chosen for them. I watched the joy of victories they experienced as well as the challenges, but one thing that remained constant through their ups and downs; one thing that stood out to me just watching them was their faith in God.

There was a saying around that house, “Trust God; He may not come when you want Him, but He is right on time.” Yes, that’s what they said, but that’s what they lived also. They waited on the Lord. I think they waited because they really did trust that He would not let them down.

As I sit here writing this article, I think about my life. Every single morning I write prayers in my prayer journal. I read my Bible every single day and I have watched myself lately. I have become them. I have become that person who believes that God will show up.

No, He hasn’t always shown up the way I wanted to, when I wanted Him to do so, but He has never left my side. When He hasn’t shown Himself readily, He has still been there; right beside me teaching me patience, endurance, trust, belief, faith and the importance of steadfast prayer. He has taught me what it means to be merciful too.

As I thought about this column, Positive Faith, I thought to myself that this is what positive faith is all about, being positive in your faith. Positively believing when there doesn’t seem to be any indication that what you are believing for will happen. I am nudged to remember, the scripture that says “Now Faith is the assurance/confidence of things we hope for and the conviction/proof of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. That’s faith, believing when we don’t see.

So when you say you have faith in God, you have to learn to believe beyond what you can physically see. I always pray, Lord help me to see through Your eyes and help me to keep the faith, when I feel like doubting. When the voices in my head want to tell me to just give up or give in, Lord help me to say, I won’t because You are the God of the impossible. Let me hold out for hope when there seems to be no hope because You, Lord, specialize in the impossible (Ephesians 3:20).

Are you having a hard time believing that what you are going through is too horrible that you can’t overcome it? Do you think that what you are facing is impossible to get out of? Do you struggle with doubt and fear when life seems to be spinning out of control? Do you faint when the pressure gets too hard? Me too at times! But that’s when faith must kick in! You, like me, must remind yourself that your strength is pulled from your faith and your faith is built on a solid foundation, Jesus Christ.