I AM So You Don't Have to Be--Lesson Five

1. Have you ever found yourself 'in faith' yet bewildered or demoralized?
Oh yes! There was a time when I had worked as a summer youth intern at a church where Dad served when I was a child. I made some not-so-wise decisions that summer. But I was also very hurt when some people who I thought knew me made assumptions about me and my morality. It hurt tremendously, and was a contributing factor to a depressive episode. I tried to resolve within myself the pain that I was feeling, but in the end, simply clinging to the Lord was the only thing to get me through!

2. Do you consider yourself content? Would you describe it as Decidedly Content or Dreamily Content?
Yes, I consider myself content. I think I lean toward dreamily content, but with a touch of decidedly content thrown in. The decidedly content part is how I feel in relation to my health--I will be content with the body God has given me, and will do my best to BE more healthy, but not let frustrations with my body bring me down!

3. If you are not content, are there circumstances that keep you from this feeling?
I think I covered that! ;)

4. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you looked back on a period of your Christian walk and believed a great opportunity passed you by?
No, I can honestly say I haven't. I'm sure that there are people that I could have influenced better or more, but I think that the circumstances that I have come through have led me to become a better follower of Christ today.

5. Do you ever believe your faith was stronger in an earlier time in your Christianity and find yourself floundering now?
I think my faith is being challenged in a different way now than ever before, but I do not believe it has ever been stronger. Could I spend more time in study and prayer? Sure! And I'm working on that. But my faith, and the knowledge of God's presence in my life, is sure and true.

6. Can you recognize that this season may be one of great preparation instead of a period of "I Was"? Looking back on the situation to which I refer in #1--yes, I can see that now. And though I hate the way that things 'went down' then, I know that if I had been walking closer with God at the time, circumstances would have been much different. Yes, the experience has made me stronger and showed me how I need to be focused on pleasing HIM instead of other men/women.

Please visit my friend Lisa's site to get started on your own journey through this study!