I’m excited to introduce a writing colleague as my guest blogger today. Her name is Lolita Buck, Founder of KATALAMBANO IT, a Christian Women’s Empowerment Brand that believes in helping women break the chains in their lives and challenge the status quo. You can learn more about Lolita below in her bio; but first, please take a moment to read her message on faith.
With love, Sara Jane Kehler
Unshakeable Faith
There is a time and season for everything under the sun. If you don’t believe me, then check out Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLT
According to this scripture, we’re guaranteed to experience a slew of emotions as we navigate this thing called life. It’s inevitable. If you ask me, it’s like going on a rollercoaster ride. So, you had better buckle up and hang on tight to your faith because this journey is filled with ups and downs, twists and turns. No doubt about it.
I have to be brutally honest with you. Some of the things you encounter in life may cause you to question God’s validity. That’s a pretty normal response, I’d say. But that is when you have to dig deep and tap into an “unshakable faith,” as I like to call it.
Let me show you what I mean…
Unshakeable faith is the kind of faith that, under normal circumstances, seems pointless. It challenges us to remain stable, even when we encounter the worst life has to offer. It’s the kind of faith that might even make you look crazy by the world’s standards. Unshakeable faith forces you to shut down human logic and takes you to a place, with God, that no one imagines going – or wants to experience, for that matter.
Faith according to scripture “is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJ21). However, let’s face it: The unshakable faith that I’m referring to is this definition times ten. For example, let’s say you hold a good job. It pays the bills, but you’ve been hoping for a promotion, only to discover you’ve been passed over, and the promotion has been given to another employee. Although this is a very upsetting and disappointing circumstance, it isn’t life-threatening. It requires what I call “baseline faith.” In other words, this circumstance requires you to trust God for a better outcome in the future, but that’s pretty much it. Now, what happens when you’re diagnosed with an incurable disease and you’re given six months to live? Or when you experience a tragedy on the level of the Uvalde elementary school shooting that occurred recently? It is in these unfortunate encounters that God challenges us to find comfort in him. He tells us in his word that his grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). But I must admit, as good as God’s promise sounds, a prognosis of six months to live is a pretty big pill to swallow. If that doesn’t shake up your faith, then I’m not sure what will. Sometimes, at the moment, it’s tough to see, but the many seasons of life actually do teach us to have faith, both when we are abased and when we abound, much like Paul in Philippians 4:12.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Philippians 4:12 KJ21
We must hold on to our faith no matter what unfolds in life. We must learn to be content, to be at peace because that’s what God instructs us to do. We are to be anxious for absolutely nothing.
Fret not about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 KJ21
And in return, God promises to ease our racing hearts and dry our sweaty palms. We can rest in his bosom, knowing that he is divinely orchestrating a beautiful plan for our lives. God obviously has our best interests at heart and would never steer us wrong.
We cannot possibly know what lies ahead. Only God knows about tomorrow. That is why it’s critical that we put our trust in him so that our faith becomes that much stronger. This is how we go from faith to faith. God knows the end from the beginning. And actually, the outcome of life’s circumstances is not our burden to carry. Plus, without unshakable faith, it is almost impossible to carry out our divine assignment.
Yes, we all experience the various seasons of life – both Christians and non-Christians alike. But as believers, we get an extra “bonus.” We have a pesky enemy that makes life that much more challenging. He knows just what to do and say to shake up our faith. However, God encourages us to submit to him, resist the devil, and he has no choice but to flee (James 4:7). God also assures us that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).
Let’s be real here for a moment. There is no testimony without a test. Unfortunately, there are no cliff notes for this lesson we call life. Only day-by-day moments. But it is ultimately our faith that will carry us through. It is this mountain-moving faith that makes us literally unstoppable. This is the way that we weather the storms of life and become OVERCOMERS through Christ Jesus, no matter the circumstance.
I want to encourage you to grab hold of God’s unfailing love. Allow him to console you and strengthen your faith so that it’s not only unshakable but so that you remain firmly rooted in him, understanding that he deeply cares for you.
Sincerely,
Lolita Buck
Lolita Buck is the Founder of KATALAMBANO IT, a Christian Women’s Empowerment Brand that believes in helping women break the chains in their lives and challenge the status quo.
Prior to establishing the Brand in 2022, Lolita was, and still is, an avid writer. Her writing portfolio consists of three books. Starting From Scratch; Did You Get The Memo, and her current release Permission To Love. She’s written articles for publications such as The Lutheran Journal, Victory Herald, and Good News Today, to name a few. She also has her own personal blog, which she contributes to on a monthly basis.
When she is not running her Brand or taking care of other Kingdom-related business she simply likes to curl up with a good book, binge-watch her favorite television shows, listen to music, or even watch a good football game with close friends & family.
Lolita’s love and passion for God are evident, as her number one priority is to empower women so that they can collectively shake up the world for the Kingdom of God.
Here’s how you can connect with her:
Website:
Facebook Group Page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/477840417242796/?ref=share
YouTube:
Sara, Living Free 
Leave a comment