Don’t put faith in a box on a shelf to be taken out from time to time when useful or needed.
Faith shouldn’t be in a box oh a shelf in a dark room. No, it needs to the room, the room that all your other life boxes are kept within.
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 2 Corinthians 4:13-14
I’ve done such a good job in my past compartmentalizing my faith – letting it get dusty and moldy untouched for many years. Then when I ‘finally’ found God I really only pulled the ‘faith box’ out in a safe place like men’s group at Mass, or when there is a time of crisis or great need. I have been very good at turning to God in difficult times and pointing, saying, “well, are You going to do what I need?”
Then our daughter was diagnosed with lupus and my faith was out of the box for long periods – again, because of dire need. I got used to my faith being present even if just because I needed it for long periods. I became more comfortable ‘wearing it’ in public, some because I needed something to lean on but a lot because she needed something to lean on. If my faith could hold her strong, by all means, don’t just lean on it, get in my box and I’ll carry you.
Then, the box frayed and seams came apart. See, my box had been neglected so long that it didn’t have strong corrugated strength or great tape to keep it together. So when things settled some, I didn’t have the fortitude necessary to sustain the peak faith I had been experiencing the prior months. And I fell, desolation descended upon my soul.
Praise God that He is the ultimate repairer – He not only pulled back together my box and re-taped it, He made it bigger and stronger than ever. He also stuck a ‘hand-written’ label upon it – it didn’t say ‘fragile’ or ‘handle with care’ or even ‘don’t shake’, the label that God placed on my faith box said ‘TRUST IN ME’.
It has taken a few additional years of learning trust to build my faith, but now I think this box of faith is laying on the curb beside the fortress of faith that God has grown within my soul. Now, I try to carry my faith openly no matter where I am or in what setting. I make effort to talk about God and His presence whenever given the opportunity. And I don’t feel a need to ask God for signs of His Presence or power any more (well, not as often).
And the more I ‘wear’ my faith openly the more comfortable I become rating on God. The more TRUST is first in my actions and prayers and the more I rely on Him.
Trust God, He wants to be set free of the box you may be trying to keep Him in. Trust in Jesus and let Him show you the Father and you too may soon find that a little box or closet can’t contain your zeal.