Faith comes in many different sizes and shapes. Some people have it. Others don’t. The extent and who the faith is in varies.
I’m a Catholic Christian who has faith in God. However, my journey in faith has changed over my 21 years of living. I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church attending mass every Sunday and learning my religion through the various Catholic schools I attended. I learned my Bible stories and received my sacraments. I thought I knew Jesus, but my faith wasn’t really questioned until I went to college. At first, I was called a “Bible Thumper” because I was so against certain things just because it was mentioned in the Bible. However, I’ve come to realize that you can have faith without going to church every weekend. Here's where my journey of faith has taken me thus far.
I believe a person can find God and happiness through spirituality. This does not have to take place in a church even though I, myself, find it there. You can find God through others and spirituality by doing good things in your life. I have found that the most pious and giving people aren't necessarily religious and that is okay. God wants you to live the Gospel through your actions, not just your words.
I have found God in spending time with my family and friends, the beach, nature and other hobbies. God works in your lives. Things happen for a reason and this is Jesus working his ways. Sometimes, it may not seem like you can have faith. I know personally in my life, when many hardships and changes come my way, I tend to lose some faith. For example, my boyfriend just moved to a different state with a different time zone, my brother is going away to Marine boot camp and my childhood puppy of 13 years died. It's hard to keep the faith when everything around you becomes less and less familiar. There are things beyond your control and finding that faith was necessary to help motivate me to continue on my journey.
The reason why I say the road to heaven isn't straight nor paved with gold is because attaining heaven is not easy. There will be detours, barriers and hardships. In my journey of faith, I've realized that, "This too shall pass," and that sacrifices will not go unseen by God. You will be rewarded for it in heaven.
I used to pray the rosary every day and go to church every weekend. While I still try to do this, I have come to realize that you need to do good deeds and live a Christian life and supplement with prayer. Praying alone does not develop you spiritually enough. I recommend looking for God in daily activities and thanking him for his mercy. What tips have you learned in your journey of faith? Please comment below!
