Elize About Faith

Over the past several months, I’ve experienced a deep calling from God. Through prayer and choosing to trust God, sometimes when it didn’t feel easy or natural, I’ve seen His grace show up in real ways in my life.

What I’ve been learning, though, is that an awakening isn’t the end goal. It’s just the beginning. Being born again in spirit opens your eyes, but walking with Christ is something you have to choose again and again. It’s daily persistence. And its being intentional.

“The nature of deception is not knowing you are being deceived. The devil doesn’t have to destroy you if it can distract you”

Pastor Josh Howerton, Lakepointe Church, USA

One of the biggest challenges for me has been distraction. Not obvious distractions, just life. Work, family, responsibilities, tiredness. None of those things are bad, but they can quietly take over if I’m not paying attention. Before long, God gets pushed to the edges, not because I don’t care, but because I’m busy.

Jesus points this out when He tells Martha that she’s worried about many things, but only one thing is really needed. That reminder has stuck with me. It’s not about doing less for the sake of it – it’s about choosing what matters most.

“You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—indeed only one.” – Luke 10:41–42

The problem isn’t doing too much. It’s focusing on the wrong things.

Making time to be still with God has been another one of the challenging parts of this journey. Not because I don’t want to be still with Him, only that life doesn’t naturally slow down, and finding time for stillness often proves difficult because of tiredness, interruptions and distractions. But I’ve found that without it, my faith becomes shallow and reactive instead of grounded.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Stillness isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about making room for God to speak and realigning my priorities to His will.

Walking with Christ has meant being honest about things in my life that don’t belong, things that did not serve Him or align with His will. Some of them weren’t visibly wrong to me at first, but I came to learn through prayer and Scripture that they aren’t in God’s will. Letting go of my old self has been uncomfortable, and at times I’ve resisted it.

Jesus is clear about this kind of walk:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Daily surrender isn’t dramatic. But it’s necessary. Jesus doesn’t hide the cost of following Him. He calls us to daily surrender. Not once. Not occasionally. Daily.

One of the biggest realisations I’ve had is that there’s no neutral space spiritually. The things I give my time and attention to either draw me closer to God or slowly pull me away. That’s been confronting, but also clarifying.

This season has felt more like growing and shaping me:

“Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

John 15:2

My walk with Jesus has come with a spiritual heaviness that is hard to describe, not because it’s difficult but because I have been paying attention and listening to Him. If anything, it has been deeply fulfilling. God hasn’t removed every difficulty in my life, but He has been faithful through it, carrying me through challenges which I now know I cannot face without Him. I have come to learn that I should rejoice in even the most painful and most difficult times, as God allows this to grow my spiritual resilience and strength for His glory.

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” – Romans 5:3-5 NIV

It is clear from this that we are expected to experience suffering. Of course we don’t like that fact, but, nevertheless, it is a fact. In his letter to the Philippians, Chapter 1, Verse 29, the Apostle Paul puts it very plainly, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,” (Philippians 1:29 RSV). Sadly this leads many astray to seek wordly comforts of the flesh instead of seeking the promise of everlasting peace and prosperity.

I’m learning that faith isn’t built on moments of spiritual clarity alone—it’s built through daily trust, devotion, prayer, reading Scripture, daily choices to stay present, obedience, discipline and being open to the changes walking with Jesus brings.

Awakening starts the journey.

Walking it is where the real work happens. Awakening may open our eyes but walking with Christ is what shapes our lives now for what is still to come.

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Prayer

God, thank You for opening my eyes to You. Help me not to stop at the awakening, but to walk with You daily. Show me where distraction has taken root, and give me the courage to let go of what no longer serves Your will. Teach me to be still, to listen, and to trust You one day at a time. Amen.

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Quiet Question to Sit With

Where in my life has busyness quietly replaced attentiveness to God?