“Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is a central part of Christianity. For the trust that we freely give God is the basis of our relationship with the Lord. However, keeping the faith, especially during difficult times in our life, is easier said than done. When things are not going our way, when it seems like obstacle after obstacle is placed in our path, how can we truly believe that God has our best interest at heart?
The important thing to remember is that much our suffering is not directly attached to God. Too often we blame God when things go wrong, even the little bumps in the road. We believe that because God is omnipresent, that He controls every aspect of every person’s existence. But I can tell you for a fact that, no, God did not cause you to trip on the sidewalk pavement or get in a car accident. Incidents like these are too small for God to micromanage. So, like God, we should also not sweat the small stuff; putting the blame on God is not only futile, but strains your relationship with Him. God does not actively will our pain to existence; he does not actively choose events to cause us misfortune, whether big or small. Our suffering should not break our Faith but create a bridge from ourselves to God. For pain and suffering enters our lives for one of two reasons: to help us grow from our mistakes and experiences, and to create much needed change in our lives. In faith, the relationship we create with God is a relationship we also create within ourselves. As we better ourselves through personal growth and change, we reestablish our Faith and bring ourselves closer to God.
But how do our bad experiences and mistakes make us better people? In order to grow from our mistakes, we must push through pain, doubt, anger, and insecurity. We must humble ourselves by finding accountability for our mistakes, and figure out where we went wrong. Maybe you made a bad decision in the past that led you to this path, or maybe you chose a path that was easier instead of one that was more worthwhile. It is amazing how we make excuses for the wrong that we have committed that have nothing to do at hand. There could be a plethora of reasons for why we make a specific set of choices, but it takes true character to realize your faults and say, “I made the wrong choice”. The phrase “hindsight is 20/20” could not ring more true; regularly reflecting and finding understanding in those choice can help ease the intense feelings associated with pain and suffering. In humility comes forgiveness, not only to those around you, but to yourself as well.
Humility is also needed when the winds of change are thrust upon. For the sake of routine, we become comfortable and get caught in patterns. When sudden change happens it jars us, and we try with all of our might to resist it. Even if what we are currently doing is bad for us, the unknown is much scarier. But while uncertain, we must remember that the unknown is not necessarily a BAD thing. This is where Faith plays an integral role; we must give full trust to the unknown. A former mentor once said to me, little faith produces little things, big faith produces big things. In my opinion, the attitude that we take into new situations or experiences determines the outcome. If we choose to embrace change, even negative change, in good 
faith, then God will reward us with good things in the future. For Good always comes with the bad, and Joy always comes after suffering. But you have to let go of what was, in order to receive what CAN BE.
In Life, we often pick and choose our battles with God. We blame him for our pain and suffering, big and small, when we know in our hearts that the battle is within ourselves. But faith, true and selfless faith, is what reconnects us to God in times of pain and suffering. We cannot just have a little faith or half faith, we must give our complete faith to God. We do not always know what God is doing, but if we remove ourselves from ego, and trust in Him, God will make something wonderful for us out of our pain. For God will make use of everything that has happened in your life, whether it is good or bad. He is willing to work with us to show us that there is strength in our weaknesses, but only if we choose to grow and move forward from our obstacles. All we have to do is love, trust in Him, and do our best; HE will do the rest.
