Baby Sunshine - Sara Kerr

As I was sitting in a session recently, I was reminded that I needed to pray about my word for the year 2019, a word that I can cling to when things get hard or even a word that can remind me of what I need to aspire for. Within just a couple of minutes the word ‘belief’ came to mind. Until today, I kept using that word as things would come up to verbally affirm myself and others struggling in various aspects. Then I looked up the definition, and it is bringing me a whole new meaning to what God may have in store for me this year. 

According to the dictionary, belief means “an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.” It also means “to have trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something.” This definition blew me away, as it goes hand in hand with Hebrews 11:1 that tells us “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Knowing how God knows my heart and mind, it does not surprise me that the word He laid on my heart would follow my favorite verse about faith. Usually picking a word can leave me anxious and nervous about what is in store, but this brings me hope and encouragement, even affirmation that the road I am on is right where God wants me. Not only that, but it is a good reminder that even when I fall or stray, He is right with me. In those moments that the future cannot be seen and all we are left with is anxiety and fear, He is with us. He calls us not to fear, so it definitely follows that having belief in ourselves would also mean having faith in Him and who He created us to be. In fact, Hebrews 11:6 says “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” So shouldn’t we do just that? Come to God in all aspects of faith, hope, and love and BELIEVE that He is who he says he is.

It seems that most of us treat God like He is some judge sitting up in the sky somewhere waiting on us to fall so that He can condemn us or punish us with hardships, but that is ridiculous when you think about it because what glory would that bring to His name to have us fear Him in such a way that we seek perfection instead of seeking Him and His righteousness? If He expected us to be perfect, why would He have sent us a savior? Wouldn’t our perfection make Christ irrelevant? 

With those questions in mind, I am looking forward to taking each day and cherishing it instead of lingering in what the next day will hold. I am looking forward to seeking righteousness instead of perfection. I am eagerly looking forward to gaining a more steadfast belief in God, myself, and others, while maintaining empathy and grace in all situations. I think this word not only is calling me to step outside of my comfort zone, hence writing this blog, but to believe and have faith in where God is calling me, even if I cannot see it right now. If we can’t see the sun, does that mean it is not rising? If I can believe in the sunrise, then I can definitely believe in God and in the woman He has created me to be even when it may not be breaking the horizon just yet. Maybe the fact that my mom always called me her ‘Baby Sunshine’ had a deeper meaning to my future than I ever realized. Maybe I get to be like the sunrise and just maybe the belief in myself will help others see their own rays of light as well.

Believe, have faith, choose love, and spread joy, my friends. God is good all the time, so let us be identified by that goodness and no longer identified by the fears and anxieties this world fills our minds and hearts with. 

-Sara Kerr