Is that the phone?

 As a pastor, you get many types of phone calls.  Missionaries wanted to schedule a time to present their burden for their mission field.  Other preachers wanted advice or to commiserate.  Church members needing a listening ear.  People needing help.  People needing comfort.  Letting me know that their loved one is in the hospital or perhaps has passed away.  Many types of phone calls.

Last night, I got home from the Wednesday evening service and got a phone call that I was not expecting.  It started like this: “Pastor, it appears someone broke into the building.”  Excuse me?  What did you just say?    On the back side of our fellowship hall, we have a small room for visiting preachers to stay in while they are with us.  It is just big enough for a family to sleep in.  There’s a bathroom and a room with a washer and dryer.  Nothing fancy.  Someone broke into that room.

I immediately went back to the church.  The police were already there.  Thankfully there was not any damage to the building.  I looked through the room and realized there was very little missing.  There wasn’t anything of real value in that room to start with. 

Here’s what was taken:  A blanket, two pillows, soap, shampoo, detergent, fabric softener, towels, wash cloths, and a trashcan.  That’s it.  Things that someone who was perhaps homeless or in need would have wanted to take. 

I didn’t get angry.  I didn’t get upset.  I was heart-broken for this person.  Here’s the sad truth:  if that person had come in the church and sat and talked with me, explained their situation, and asked for help, I would have given them those things that they needed.  Not because of who I am, but because of Jesus.  That’s what He would have done. 

It was a restless night to be sure.  Early this morning, I got up, went to the store, and bought a new lock for that room.  I installed it and   I spent some time cleaning up the room.  I also spent some time praying.  Praying for this person.  I finally forgave them.  In my heart, I’m hoping that this person was helped by the towels, soap and other things that were taken.  I prayed for their soul.  Hopefully they know Jesus.  There were a handful of Gospel tracts missing as well.  If they don’t know Jesus, I hope they meet Him through that literature. 

I’m not going to focus on what was taken. Instead, I’m going to focus on what wasn’t taken.  Our peace.  Our peace is in Jesus, not in buildings.  No one can take that.  Our commitment to the ministry is still intact.  We may have been shaken, but we aren’t giving up.   Our desire to help the less fortunate hasn’t been taken.  Yes, this hurt.  Just like when someone apparently didn’t like the food in our food box, so they decided to decorate the playground with food. But we are still going to try to be a blessing to folks. 

We’ve learned some things through this, and I’m sure we’ll learn some more as the days go on.  My prayer isn’t that the person responsible is caught or punished, my prayer is that they would get the help they need.  Would you pray with us? 

I haven’t said much over the past 6 months or so about our fostering journey.  It’s been…interesting to say the least.  Laura and I had talked about becoming foster parents for years.  One thing or another would come up and we’d always say we would wait. 

About 8 or 9 months ago we began talking about it in earnest.  We did our research.  We did some soul searching.  We discussed it with our boys.  We prayed about it.  The Lord seemed to be opening the doors for us to foster.  We signed up for the introductory meeting.  For two hours we listened to a foster parent talk about her foster journey.  We signed up for the rest of the training. 

In all honesty, this was Laura’s dream.  I initially agreed because I knew it was something that she wanted to do.   But the more I learned about the foster system, the more I was burdened to be involved. 

One day, while I was reading my Bible, the Lord spoke to my heart.  I was reading in James, where the scripture tells us that true religion is visiting the widow and the orphan in their affliction.  I surrendered my heart to being a foster parent. 

Our first placement completely changed my family’s perspective.  A little girl and her baby brother were placed in our home.  They quickly became part of our family.  As long as I live, I will never forget the day that sweet darling girl placed her hands on my face, looked me in the eyes and said, “Are you Daddy?”  My heart melted.  One morning, I was playing with the little boy.  Just doing the typical Dad thing, holding him up in the air over my head and talking to him.  He grinned at me and I thought, he’s never had a Daddy play with him like this.  That is why I became a foster parent.  Because there are so many children in Kentucky that need what so many of us take for granted—the love of a parent. 

No, they aren’t my flesh and blood.  No, I’m not looking to adopt.  I’m looking to step up and step in to give these precious children what they need most at perhaps the darkest time in their young lives, a father’s love.   Someone who loves them no matter what—the temper tantrums, the night terrors, the arguing, no matter what. 

You’re probably thinking, I could never do that.  I could never open my home, much less my heart, to perfect strangers.  Where much is given, much is required.  My heavenly Father gave me love when I was unlovable.  He opened His heart and His Home for me.   As a Christian, I am supposed to show this world the love of Jesus.  How better than to heed His words and suffer the little children. 

We’ve got our next placement.  An adorable little boy.  We’ve been told that most likely, this will be short term placement.  It’s only been a few days, but I’m already dreading the call from the caseworker that says he’s going home.  I’ll be happy for him and overjoyed for his parents.  But it’s going to hurt.  I’m going to cry.  I’m going to have second thoughts.  But I’ll say yes again and again.   

Glass Houses

I have been thinking on something for quite some time now and it may just be time to share my thoughts about it.  This post may make some people angry with me; they may think I have become liberal.  They may decide to disavow me.  But here goes nothing.   I am tired of legalism.  I am tired of people judging other people by their own personal standards. 

No, I am not leaving the Independent Fundamental Baptist “movement.”  I am not becoming a liberal.  I am not becoming a modernist.  I have not moved in my beliefs.  If anything, the IFB “movement” has left me.

Here is the thing I have been pondering.  Why do we hold other people to our standards?  Who are we to look at other people and say they are not as spiritual, as separated,  or as holy as me, so they are not right with God? 

Let us talk about a standard that people judge by-dress.  That is an easy one.  If someone does not dress exactly the way I do, then they are a heathen.  I challenge you to go to the Bible and find a passage of scripture that gives a detailed explanation of the proper wardrobe of a Christian.  I’ll wait.  Have you found it yet?  Spoiler alert:  you will not.  The Biblical standard is not to wear this or not to wear that, the Biblical principal is to be modest, as found in I Timothy 2:9 - “modest apparel.”  The Bible teaches us to be modest.  What does modest mean?   According to the dictionary, it means moderate or reasonable, not extreme.  Our clothing should be reasonable, not flashy or revealing.  What’s reasonable to you may not be reasonable to others.  What’s reasonable to others may not be reasonable to you and that’s okay.  Over the years, there is one question I am asked about our church repeatedly.  “Do I have to wear a dress at your church?”  No.  Nope.  Not at all.  If you come to church wearing jeans and a tee shirt, I’ll welcome you.  If you come to church wearing shorts and halter top, I’ll welcome you.  If you come to church in a dress, I’ll welcome you.  If you come to church in your pajamas, I’ll envy you a bit, but I’ll welcome you.  Why?  It’s more important to me that you come to church than that you come to church wearing a particular item of clothing.  Your relationship with God is not defined by your clothes, but by what’s in your heart.   

People in glass houses should not throw stones.  A great old saying that we have not applied to ourselves as we ought to.  Let me tell you a story.  Years ago, I was talking to a fellow I worked with.  He’s a self-professed agnostic.  We were having an exceptionally good, very deep discussion on Christianity.  At the time, I weighed about 275 pounds.  He made this statement: “You are fat.  How is your sin any different than my sin?”  You know what, he was and is right.  Gluttony is a sin.  There may be circumstances beyond your control that causes obesity, but in my case, it was gluttony.  I realized that my testimony was tainted by my weight.  Shortly after that, several things happened that caused me to determine to lose weight, and I did, praise the Lord. 

In Isaiah 6, Isaiah saw the holiness of God and the first thing he did was look at himself.  Not others.  He said, “woe is me.”  He judged himself as undone and unclean.  We are experts at picking others apart while ignoring our own faults and failures.  It wasn’t until Isaiah got himself right that he began to worry about others.  He said first, woe is me, and then he said I live in a land of unclean people.    Point of interest:  Isaiah realized that he and the rest of Israel were all in the same boat:  unclean, in need of God’s grace.  He didn’t feel better than them because he was closer to the Lord.  

How about John the Beloved Disciple?  In his epistles, he writes to the “fathers, young men, and little children.”  Why?  Because he knew not all the believers had grown into the same levels of maturity.  He was showing them grace.  He was giving them grace to grow.  John was not critical of the “little children.”  He didn’t say that they should be as spiritual as him, the beloved disciple.

We get the idea that if someone has been saved 5 minutes they should be as spiritual as we are, or even worse, we get so focused on the outside that we don’t give the Holy Spirit leave to work on the inside.  We get out the white paint and paint those sepulchres (Matthew 23:27), because they have got to match our whited sepulchres. 

Jesus Himself told the Pharisees and scribes that brought the woman taken in the act of adultery, that the one without sin should cast the first stone.  One by one, they all dropped their stones and slinked away.  When the Light of the Lord shines on our sin, we realize we are not worthy to judge one another. 

Before we worry about anyone else, we need to make sure we are what we ought to be.  And let’s be honest, we’re all fixer uppers with a lot of work that needs to be done. 

 

 

Marriage Tune Up

For the last couple of years, I have had a burden to take the couples in our church on a marriage retreat.   Not that I think the married couples in our church are in trouble, quite the contrary.  The idea of a marriage retreat isn’t necessarily to fix the broken parts, but to keep the marriage from breaking, to shore up some basic areas to keep the marriage healthy. 

My doctor recently recommended I have an annual physical, just to make sure that everything was working like it should.  He made this statement: “sometimes, we focus on a particular diagnosis and can be blinded to what else may be going on.”  He was referring to my cancer diagnosis and how often times, doctors will focus on a known issue and not consider what else may be happening.  I have been thinking about this statement and how it can apply to many things, including marriage. 

You and your spouse may be going through a challenging area together and you are focusing on that one area to the detriment of the rest of your marriage.  Sometimes, it may be your children.  It may be finances.  It may be something else entirely.  Those issues will come and go, but your marriage will remain. 

Let me give you a couple of thoughts on some routine maintenance for your marriage.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve been married 5 months, 5 years, or 50 years, these things will help. 

Tell your spouse you love them.  Often.  Repeatedly.  Many people assume their spouse knows this.  Remind them.  Don’t let them forget.  But telling them that you love them also reminds you of that fact.  Yes, it’s important that you don’t forget you love your spouse!  I have had many couples in my office for counseling over the years that the conversation gets to this point:  “I just don’t love them anymore.” Or “I’ve fallen out of love.”  Love isn’t a feeling, it’s an action, it’s an attitude, it’s an aptitude.   

Tell your spouse why you love them.  What is it about them that you love?  Is it their strength?  Is it their compassion?  Is their ability to go above and beyond to help people?  Why do you love them?  This is so important.  Think for just a moment with me.  Why do you love your spouse?  If you can’t give me several reasons, maybe you need to spend some time reflecting on this.  My wife bought a piece of wall art years ago that says "I love you because" and then below it is a chalkboard.  Occasionally, she will write something about why she loves me.  I so enjoy seeing what she writes.    

Date your spouse.  Life is crazy.  Especially right now.  Work, kids, bills, who has time to date?  You better make time.  Dating your spouse is essential for your marriage.  Keep those connections alive!  Many think that once the wedding is over, so is the pursuit.  Oh no, continue to pursue your spouse, just like before you got engaged and married.  People need to know that they are wanted.  They need to know that you need them in your life. 

Be intimate with your spouse.  No, I’m not talking about physically.  Talk with your spouse about your fears, your dreams, your goals, your worries.  Sharing those deeply personal things is the basis for all other forms of intimacy.  True intimacy in marriage is being real with your spouse.  Try this:  pray with your spouse.  Take some time and just pray together. 

These are just a few ways to you can give your marriage a quick tune up.  Pick one and try it today.  Plan a date night.  Have a conversation with them.  Let them talk and you just listen.  Reconnect and reap the benefits. 

My Response to the Governor's Requirements for places of Worship to Reopen

I pastor a small, independent, Baptist church in south central Kentucky.  From the end of March through April, I attempted to meet the flocks’ spiritual needs through online services and a couple of drive in services.  I was never satisfied with my ability to lead our people in worship during this time.  I am not a “digital pastor.” 

I made the decision to not have in person services.  There was no convention, association, or district leadership making that decision for me.  I believe that at the end of March when I made that decision, it was the best decision for the congregation of our church.  At the end of March, we had at least 5 families that had a member that just been in the hospital for a procedure or were in their recovery period from a medical procedure or had underlying health problems that made them vulnerable. 

I, as the pastor, felt the leadership of the Lord to resume in person services.  On the first Sunday in May, we held in person services.  Our attendance was not as high as it was in early March as I expected.  I spent time researching common sense approaches to take to keep our congregation safe.  Contrary to popular opinion, I am not a loose cannon out to make a bold statement.  I sent a letter to each family in membership outlining these steps.  The first Sunday back provided me the opportunity to minister to the congregation both in person and for those that did not feel that they should attend, online.  It was also a learning opportunity.  I have made a few adjustments and feel confident that our congregation will be as safe this coming Sunday, as they would be at Wal-Mart or Sonic or in an office building. 

The governor of the Commonwealth has issued requirements that churches must follow to be allowed to reopen.  Sorry, Gov, but that cat’s out of the bag.  The courts have ruled that the executive order preventing in person services are unconstitutional.   I have been reviewing these requirements and have decided to formalize my response to them. 

I have taken these directly from the governor’s document entitled “Healthy at Work – Places of Worship – Final Version 1.0.”  (The requirements are in red).  I will only respond to those that apply directly to my specific Church.

Places of worship conducting in-person services should limit attendance to no more than 33% of the building occupancy capacity, including clergy and staff-employees, while maintaining social distance between household units of at least six (6) feet. This means that there must be six (6) feet between individuals on a row and individuals between rows, such that a six-foot radius is maintained around all household units. A place of worship that cannot maintain this space must further reduce its occupancy capacity until it is achieved.   I have already arranged our seating to make the 6 feet of distance easily maintainable.  I have no issue with doing this.

Places of worship should ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that clergy, staff-employees,volunteers and congregants wear coverings (e.g., cloth mask or bandana) over their mouths and noses while attending services.  No.  I will not require anyone to wear a mask.  The letter I sent out said that anyone would be welcome to wear a mask if that felt that they should.  If, as according to the CDC, we maintain appropriate social distancing (as in above), masks are not necessary.  They are to be used in areas where social distancing is hard to maintain. 

Places of worship should wait to reopen youth services (including, but not limited to, Sunday schools) until childcare services have reopened on June 15, 2020. Once they reopen, youth services should follow the requirements posted for childcare services.  This does not make any sense to me.  If a young person is safe in the auditorium, following step #1, why aren’t they safe in a classroom, following step #1?  This is an overreach by the government.

Places of worship should avoid congregational or choir singing during services, as doing creates a higher risk of spreading infectious particles. Houses of worship should consider alternatives to congregational singing, including by playing pre-recorded or live instrumental music (e.g. pianos and guitars - no wind instruments) during services.  No.  The governor should review the Bill of Rights.  Government cannot restrict our form of worship.  Singing is a Biblical mandate for the church.  (Isaiah 12:5, Isaiah 42:10, Jeremiah 20:13, Romans 15:9, and about 14 verses from Psalms that direct Christians to sing to the Lord, plus others that I have not mentioned).  Again, if we are following step number 1, this is an overreach by the governor. 

Places of worship should consider taking congregants’ temperatures and asking about signs of illness before admitting them into the place of worship. If they do take temperatures, they should consider using a non-contact thermometer or thermal imager.  If a place of worship must use a standard oral/aural thermometer, consider having the congregant take their own temperature and relay the information to maintain social distancing and sanitize the thermometer after each use.  No.  I have instructed our church family that if they are feeling unwell or have a fever or other symptoms to stay at home.  These families are led by adults that can make these decisions. 

Places of worship making restrooms available must ensure restrooms are only used by one person at a time and all portions that are regularly touched (e.g., door, sink, and toilet handles) are appropriately disinfected after each use.  Excuse me?  Does Wal-Mart have to disinfect the restrooms after each use and are limited to one person?  Are the restrooms at factories disinfected after each use and are limited to one person?  I don’t think so.  This is another overreach of the government.  Perhaps the Governor should review the Commonwealth’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act which requires the government to use the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling government interest.  Unless Mr. Beshear is going to require Wal-Mart to limit their restrooms to a single person and insist that they be disinfected after each use, he cannot require the Church to do so. 

Places of worship conducting in-person services must, to the greatest extent practicable, provide hand sanitizer, handwashing facilities, tissues, and waste baskets in convenient locations, Really?  We have been doing this for years, it is common sense and common courtesy. 

Places of worship should not provide communal food or beverages to clergy, staff employees, volunteers, or congregants.  I hope that the Gov is referring to the grand Baptist tradition of potlucks and not to the practice of Communion, otherwise known as the Lord’s Supper a Biblical mandate to the Church.  (Refer to a previous response for my response to this suggestion; notice this is a “should not,” and not a “must.”  Perhaps they realized the thinness of this ice.)

The remaining requirements are either common sense things like proper cleaning and not touching your mouth or rehash previous statements. 

We will have in person services this Sunday.  We will gather, worship the Lord together, and fellowship together.  Yes, we will use common sense to help keep everyone safe-social distancing, hand sanitizer, no handshaking, etc.  We will not conform to these requirements that are in violation of our civil liberties, and more importantly, a violation of our sincerely held practices and beliefs.   

You may disagree with this.  You may think we are being reckless and insensitive.   If you are not comfortable coming to church or going to the store, or going to a restaurant, then do not.  That is your right.  But it is our right to do so if we chose.  Just as we will not harangue you for staying isolated, please do not harangue us for living our faith.  

Current Times in Light of the Bible

I consider myself a student of the Bible.  In fact, I have a Bachelors’ degree in Theology and am I test away from a Masters’ degree in Theology.  For over 20 years I have read, studied, and meditated on God’s Word consistently, but there are things that still confound and confuse me.  

There are many mysteries in the Bible (not my word, God Himself calls them mysteries).  One thing that always seems to intrigue people is the Book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelation details what will happen in the last days.  One of the key people in this explanation is the Anti-Christ.  Though never identified by name or specific details (wouldn’t that have been nice) we can understand quite a bit about him. 

To gain an understanding of the Anti-Christ, we need to look at another book in the New Testament, the book of Second Thessalonians, chapter two.  Let me quote the text below:

2:1 ¶ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

 3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

In verse number 3, we find the Anti-Christ by two other names, the “man of sin” and the “son of perdition.”  Notice that the text states very clearly that there will be a falling away and then the man of sin will be revealed.  Then again in verse 6, we find that the Anti-Christ will be revealed in his time. 

We can surmise that something happens that sets the stage for the Anti-Christ to be revealed.  Some catastrophe occurs that creates the perceived need of strong humanistic leadership.  We don’t know what this event or events may be.  Some have speculated that it would be a global war, terrorism, or an economic collapse that creates such an atmosphere.  Regardless of what the circumstances may be, the Anti-Christ will step up and say that he has the answers, he can save everyone. 

Notice with me verse 4 is a description of the Anti-Christ’s attitudes.  He opposes all that is of God; he exalts himself above all that is called God.  He sits in the temple of God, as if he was God.  What does all this mean?  The Anti-Christ views himself as above God or the notion or idea of worshiping God.  He would say that worshiping God is outdated or old fashioned, that holding to the Christian faith is not necessary or prudent during this day and time (during the great crisis).  The Anti-Christ will set himself up as having the solutions to all our problems.

How will people respond to the Anti-Christ?  With disdain and angst?  With disbelief and heartache?  To find out, we will look to Revelation 13

Re 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Notice that in verse 4, the people worshiped the dragon and the beast (the Anti-Christ).  In verses 5 and 7, power was given to the Anti-Christ and in verse 8, we see that all the earth will worship him.  The Anti-Christ becomes a world leader whom all adore and worship.  All that is, except those whose names are written in the Book of Life—those who are born again Christians. 

People respond to the Anti-Christ willingly.  If we were to continue studying in Revelation, we will see that the Anti-Christ proceeds with giving the people the mark of the beast.  The scriptures tell us that people cannot buy or sell without the mark.  People will surrender their basic civil liberties for the Anti-Christ, because he will save us all. 

One of the questions I always ask myself is how can this transpire?  How can we, freedom loving Americans, willingly surrender our rights and liberties to the Anti-Christ?   As I study the book of Revelation, I see no prophetic mention of the United States.  This tells me that we as a nation must surrender to the Anti-Christ readily early after he is revealed. 

Considering recent events, I have learned some things.  I have learned that the citizens of the United States will for the most part fall into line when someone says that “this is for the greater good.”  I have learned that the American people are easily panicked and will look for a strong voice in times of distress—any strong voice and that strong voice will become an overnight idol in the hearts and minds of countless thousands of people. 

Why will the world turn to welcome the Anti-Christ?  Because it is in our nature to do so.  We, as humans, have a need for a strong leader.  When one rejects God and His Saviour, that leaves your heart open for someone else to fill that need.  As the Beloved Apostle John tells us, we ought to try the spirits to see if they are of God.  Not all strong voices we are hearing these days are Godly. 

Have Faith in God

Have faith in God.  How many times have you heard a preacher or fellow Christian say those words or something just like them?  Just have faith.  Just believe.  Just trust.

As a preacher I’ve probably told someone words to that effect hundreds, if not thousands, of times.  Your loved one is sick?  Trust the Lord.  You’ve got bills that you don’t know how to pay?  Have faith in the Lord.  Your teenager is giving you trouble?  Have faith. 

These aren’t platitudes we use to try to make each other feel better, but quite honestly, this is the best advice we can give to each other.  This morning, you may be struggling with needs.  You may be struggling with issues that no one else knows about.  Those secret things that are weighing you down that you haven’t shared with anyone.  Perhaps it’s a medical diagnosis that you are trying to get your mind around.  Perhaps your marriage is in trouble.  We all face a multitude of struggles and heartaches every day. 

Let me be perfectly honest with you:  I struggle with this.  When my needs are larger than my resources; when things are not going according to my plans and my ideas, my faith isn’t what it ought to be.  Wait a minute, you may be thinking, you’re the preacher!  You’re the pastor!  You’re supposed to have rock solid faith!  True.  But so are you!

I was listening to some music the other day.  A song played that spoke to my heart.  The song was talking about the disciples on the boat in the middle of the sea and the storm came up and they were afraid.  It got so bad, that they thought they were going to die.  Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. They woke Him and He calmed the wind and the seas. 

As I was listening to this song, I was struck by these thoughts.  First, they weren’t alone.  Jesus was with them in the storm.  They weren’t facing the storm without Him.  Not only did they have Jesus in the boat, there were most likely a total of 13 men in that boat—the 12 disciples and Jesus.  They had each other.  You may indeed be facing issues of life this morning, but you’re not the only one in that boat!

Secondly, I was struck by the thought that Jesus was waiting on them.  I can picture in my mind the disciples running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to figure out what to do.  Peter was probably mouthing off to James and John; Andrew was asking Phillip what to do; Matthew was wondering why he ever left the tax collector business.  But in the back of the boat was the answer, the solution to their problems.  Jesus. 

Thirdly, I realized that Jesus wasn’t surprised by the storm.  I’ve read, studied, or preached from this passage many, many times.  I’ve never had this realization.  Jesus didn’t wake up and say “oh, there’s a storm.  How about that.”  No, Jesus awoke and spoke to the disciples.  He didn’t ask about the storm. He didn’t ask about the boat.  He simply stood up and said “Peace, be still.”  Then He asked these questions:  why are you afraid, and where is your faith.  

We can have faith in the Lord during our struggles.  No one ever said it would be easy.  Having faith is not having storms.  Faith is trusting in God in the storms.  Don’t let your storms distract you from the simple fact that God is God, and He is able to provide for your needs.  Perhaps, you just need to talk to Him about those needs and find peace in spite of the storms.