Spiritual Matters

Faith is a necessary ingredient of success.  If you don't have faith you are not going to succeed.  You need faith in God, faith in yourself, faith in those around you and faith in your abilities to be successful.  And it's not going to be easy.  Even with faith, with unyielding belief, there are going to be troubles along the way.  No person has become successful without facing a bump or two in the road.

The 18th century theologian, Phillip Brooks, once wrote, "Do not pray for easy lives, but pray to be stronger men [and women].  Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, but pray for power equal to your task, then the accomplishing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle." There's a whole lot of inspiration in that one phrase!

Our lives are not going to be easy. That's not the script.  As we walk this earth, regardless of how good we are at what we do, how proficient we are in our careers, we are going to encounter adversity.  Reverend Brooks reminds us then, not to ask God to make it all go away, but to make us stronger beings to be able to withstand the curves being thrown our way.  No one becomes better by measuring themselves against mediocrity and by being triumphant over the weak.

Having faith is not going to shield you from the firestorms of life.  But remaining faithful during those storms, will eventually bring you safely through.