This email dropped in my in-box recently.
Dear Suzie, how can you believe in Jesus when so many see your faith in such a negative light?
What an honest question. This was my response to my new friend:
Dear friend, your email was much longer. You asked me to describe my faith. You asked if I was fundamental or moderate or liberal. You pointed out how people have used God’s name to hurt others. You asked why I believed.
Thank you for trusting me enough to have this conversation. Honestly, I’m so glad you asked.
I don’t see myself as a label. Not as far as my faith is concerned.
And I understand that faith can seem complex. Like, when it is tangled in a to-do list or misused. That’s the human element. We are all oh-so-human sometimes.
But I have also been privileged to also witness faith change the world and change people. If you see me on a Sunday morning, I’m watching people.
I’m seeing the young couple on the second row. He used to be an addict; she used to feel hopeless. Now they worship God freely, a child nestled between them.
I look at the woman in the choir whose husband doesn’t believe, but she loves him well. Her joy comes from family, but also through a deep connection with her Heavenly Father.
I see the extra-tall guy who’s bald and wears a funky cap. He’s so in love with Jesus that it’s hard to deny.
It’s His work I see inside of them that describes why I love Him so much.
It’s His work inside of me that does the same.
There have been times when I lifted my hands to worship in the bleakest parts of my life and true praise rang out though there was nothing praiseworthy at the moment.
That was because of my faith, not because I was strong.
There have been moments when I felt His presence close, and knew I was not alone.
Knowing God has transformed my life and continues to do so, even in the questioning parts.
So, why do I follow Him?
I follow Him because I cannot see my life without a relationship that changed me so completely.
I can’t shake the truth that my life took a turn when I became a believer. Knowing him is a thread through the fabric of every choice, every decision, every part of my existence and I’m grateful.
My pastor recently asked a question.
Would people want to follow the Jesus they see in you?
I hope so. Not because I’m perfect or have all the answers, because the truth is that sometimes I fall way short.
But because He’s real and that knowledge changes everything.
It changes me. It changes us.
Thanks again for stopping by. I’m so grateful that you did.
Suzie
This was GORGEOUS! I follow you on Twitter and saw your link. I’m SO glad I did!
Thanks, Deena!
Yes, Suzie, I think we all struggle with our faith at some point in our lives. I know I have. But like you, He has been at work in my life all along. He makes all the difference. Praise Him!
Suzie, Great post! I, too, follow you on Twitter. When we untangle our faith from schedules, committees, discontent, and everything else, we are then able to entangle it in the proper place…with the Lord! Thank you for this.
You mentioned you were studying the book of Ruth. I think this book may be my favorite. I took it apart for my book. It is so awesome. Enjoy studying it.
Blessings…Lynn
Suzie, I could just imagine myself at your church seeing all of those people in the pews. I know because I’ve seen people like that at my own church. What an amazing miracle that Jesus is working, changing lives, changing us. You gave a wonderful answer to your friend. #LiveFree!
p.s. (Can’t wait to see those P31 OBS videos! 🙂 )
The videos are a little crazy. <3 We had fun with them since the content is a little deeper.
I was just thinking about this yesterday, Suzie. When I share about my faith, I don’t want to come across as some kind of expert, or someone who has it all together. I want people to see that Jesus transformed a lost girl who made lots of mistakes, and he can do the same for them. I love how you addressed such a difficult question; the sincerity and love in your answer can be felt. Great post today.
I can’t pretend that I have all the answers, because I don’t have them. I truly love searching and living my faith to discover them. Sometimes I hit a brick wall and that’s when I just settle in to His love, for that’s where I find Him. That presence reminds me of why I call myself His.
<3
Suzanne,
Your response reminds me of the quiet gentle servant who leads by example filled with love for others like Christ. You know that is what John 13:35 says, ” By this all shall know that you are mine….that you show love.”
That is what people are looking for, not the to-do lists that we can’t measure up to or check off, not the strict reminders of our not good enough and our mess up moments.
Living freely restored, it is living in the deepest part of love… IN Christ. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this letter to your friend.
Bless you!
Dawn
Oh, I do hope people want to follow the Jesus they see in me. A powerful question, and your answer to that email was humble and fitting. Sometimes it seems He is far away, when we can’t seem to see through the fog, but if we continue to live our faith, others will see that. I love witnessing the transformation in those whose lives have been lifted out of the mire. God is good, and He is faithful.
Thank you for this word, Suzi, and thank you for hosting each week!
What a beautiful answer. I agree wholeheartedly. He has changed everything, and I cannot imagine life without Him. I pray your words will reach a soft heart, and draw that precious one to Jesus.
Blessings and hugs,
Kamea
Wow! Great post and answer!!! I loved this Suzie–> “I follow Him because I cannot see my life without a relationship that changed me so completely.” Thanks for encouraging today! Blessings.
Tayrina from TGAWrites
Words of Comfort for Your Heart
What a reality-based answer! When we are – daily – privy to overwhelming evidence that God changes lives because we see it in our own experience, it makes for a powerful testimony!
I’m a people watcher, for example I see a picture of a brand new baby in your arms in your profile pic. Tell us about this!
Wow, this is powerful!! What a beautifully articulated response! Thank you so much for sharing this conversation.
Thank you for sharing your story, your faith journey, Suzie. You are a natural born encourager. What an honor to have someone entrust you with that email, those questions.
Michelle
Awesome post!!!
Such a beautiful response, Suzie. We can’t help but be changed by His very real touch. (Goodness knows I’ve needed a lot of Jesus…and still do!) And after reading your book, I’m even more amazed at the work the Lord has done in your life. You’re truly a walking testimony, a beautiful fragrance, and He is all-around GOOD. 🙂
Kristi, I can only point to God. His Holy Spirit. His Son, our Savior. I’m so grateful that our Heavenly Father is patient with us, and that we can grow over time.
Thanks for reading the book. My prayer is that thousands of women will join us in the Proverbs 31 Ministries online study so that we can all mend and grow together! I appreciate you so much. https://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/
It is my prayer that the world would see Jesus in me. Thanks for the link up and sharing your heart.
A timely post for tough times, thank you.
I am praying the world sees Jesus in me. Thanks for sharing your heart.
Oops I see that I already posted. LOL!
Jodie, thanks for coming in to this conversation. That’s my prayer as well, Jodie. <3 Lord, let a world see Jesus in me. More than anything. Before anything. Bigger than anything.
me too! The old hymn, Make me a blessing to someone today is a part of my morning prayer. What an awesome explaination of why we serve God, because HE loved us first, when we deserved it the least.
Kelli, I’m writing my next book right now and falling in love with Jesus all over again. Sometimes we just have to peel away what we consider “faith” to find the heart of Christ. It’s challenging. It’s deep and transforming. It’s intimacy. It’s change.
I hear you. I want to protect my faith from cynicism, neglect, boredom and comparison as well. I only find that as I push all the other things aside just to walk with Jesus. I love the heart behind your prayer. It’s mine as well!
No doubt I’m following Jesus because of what I see in you, sweet Suzie!
May His love, light and living water flow through us to bless everyone we meet! Thank you for the beautiful post and for hosting and God bless.
Awesome reply Suzie! Genuine, as always, heartfelt, like you, and inspirational, to us. I love knowing you and being blessed by your life.
What a beautiful response! Is it permissible to print out the word art? I’d like to frame it and send it to my sister. She’s struggling with her faith right now. As a fairly new Christian, she’s not yet rooted in her faith and when life throws her a curve ball, she begins to question God’s love and faithfulness. Definitely sharing this post with her. Thank you!
This life just doesn’t work right without Him. And that is how He designed it to be.
A friend of ours after his first year of marriage fell mysteriously debilitatingly ill. They have searched and tested for years. A couple of months back, they found out he has Lyme’s Disease ( though previous tests came back negative).
But one Easter, before they knew what the problem was, Jon was quoted saying this:
“I am so glad for today. (Easter) because if not for today all my suffering would be for nothing.”
In good, bad and indifferent times, God gives it all to sustain us and to relate with us.
I too, can’t imagine my life without Him. It would be a ridiculous mess. Jesus gives my mess meaning. 🙂