Faith...holding on to the promises of God in times of disappointment

This past week I was in the book of Hebrews and once again I am amazed at the story of the "cloud of witnesses."
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1.
I like CS Lewis' definition in Mere Christianity: "Faith, ... is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods."

I must trust even when and actually most when it is darkest around me. The Lord has plans that are good for me: Jeremiah 29:11 tells me, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
It does not depend on my mood or the circumstances around me, it depends on the promises of a faithful sovereign God.

Hebrews 11 tells me: By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,...I wish that I had the faith of Abraham. I often find myself questioning 'why?'
Reading on I see that all the witnesses did what they did "by faith"
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
It is very important to have faith to receive the promises of God.
Today was a day when I had to once again reassess my faith in God and trust Him for His plans for me. I am making a choice and like Abraham and all those witnesses of the faith, I chose to believe.

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