Fairy-dust or Dirt.

"The notion that only good things happen to faithful people was put to rest on a Friday afternoon at Calvary." ~William Willimon

I’ve been pondering faith today. Not the fairy-dust, flittering kind of faith that smiles and says “it’ll all be OK, sweetie” with a slight wink - but a weighty, dirty, deliberate faith. I’ve seen that faith in action before, and have always admired it. In fact, I’ve often said in moments of inspiration, reflection and prayer, “Lord, I’m here to do what You desire – I’ll follow Your path, press into You fully, go wherever and do whatever.” Gosh, I do love Jesus. And I want those words to be true. I want my life to be a complete picture of His glory and His majesty, because He deserves no less. I want to live a life that is faith-filled.

Or at least I think I do.

When I live life in the day-to-day, I see myself much more drawn to a comfortable life that far too often draws its strength from the here-and-now rather than the now-and-forever. I see someone suffer, and I reach for faith to get through. I have a difficult day, and I reach for faith to move past it. I hear of someone else’s heartfelt desires and hopes, and I reach for faith to join them in celebrating the yet-unseen victory. Wow, I reach for faith like a soda or a bag of chips.

Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness.” C.S Lewis

But how often do I simply and deliberately reach for faith as an act of love for my Saviour? Reading Hebrews 11 is always a sobering thing for me. While I smile at reading about those who have walked the road before me, paving a beautiful, narrow, well-worn way, I am jarred by the imagery.

It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that He exists and that He cares enough to respond to those who seek Him. ~Heb. 11:6 MSG

Would I reach for a dirty faith that says “I’m walking INTO hardship because I know my God will not let me down.” Would I reach for a weighty faith that says “I’m walking INTO suffering because I know my God will not let me go.” Would I deliberately reach for a faith that leads to pain or sorrow? Oh, how I would love to say “yes.”

But, at the end of the day, am I really looking for fairy-dust faith?

How about you? Fairy-dust or dirt?