My faith has had many forms in my 51 years, and has changed and evolved, I’d like to think I’ve matured but perhaps it’s just life, or for the main purposes of this (God refining me).
How did it all start? Where did my beliefs come from and why did I believe what I did? Was it because it was truth? Bad 80’s faith movies? Environment? Church? Family? Strangers? The bible? Sunday school? Jesus?
Why have I believed in Christianity and not some other faith-based religion? Buddhism has some aspects I could go for.
I reflect on this because to evolve, it’s got to have a genesis if you will. Have you ever reflected on your beginnings of belief?
The bit where I refer to the bible: and ask a few rhetorical questions
Isaiah 43:14-19 verse19- See I am doing a new thing…do you not perceive it?
This verse and the section it’s based in is God telling the nation of Israel, you’ve been through some significant trials but I’m bringing you back to your homeland, reassuring right? Especially when it’s God telling you that. It’s a reassurance of his love for them even though they’ve been disappointing on many levels and not obedient. Hmmm, that’s been me in my faith. Anyone else?
Renewal and divine intervention is what I get from this verse, as simplistic themes go, and for a new year, I’ll put my hand up for both. “A new thing,” God initiating change. But as I interpret it, its not just a change of circumstances. Sometimes we fall into the trap of the big B- the bargaining with God, change my circumstances and I will devote myself to you (in a nightie singing on the front porch even-70’s movie musical reference) But God means more and when He says he means more- He does. Spiritual transformation. What is that? Apart from being faith jargon, it means that He can change how you see Him, yourself, and the world, sometimes slow, sometimes quickly and that in turn changes your values/ faith/ beliefs.
is that something that you want? Need? Have pondered for 2026? Does my faith need changing?
Considering the world and where we are, zeroing in on the state of your life right now, could you use a refresh? But to do this we need an active stance in our beliefs? Your faith or belief system must mean something enough to change it, or you won’t.
What happens when the new thing is painful? Or means losing people, places, things you love? Do we really want it? If God does promise restoration but it’s painful and means letting go, what stops me from saying that promise looks good on paper but… not for me. How many of us have seen that? Faith, the first thing to go often in trials, even for leaders in the church. Why do some people keep the faith and some just abandon it?
The classic famed concept (Good God, Bad stuff still happens) in the realm of faith dichotomy. But that’s a whole another week in itself- stay tuned!
The bit where you get to think about stuff: Questions for the week.
What am I carrying into 2026 that still matters about my faith?
Where do I sense some strain in what I used to believe and in the present? Does this help or hinder my faith and its purpose?
How can I be alert to the new things God might do in my beliefs in 2026?
Unfinished Faith: Relearning God. 