Authenticity

I was reminded today that it's important to be 'real'...authentic. Not always easy in my experience to be consistent through the ups and downs. The things we think and say when times are good, can come back to us when times are hard... Do I 'really' believe all that stuff? When things are good it's so much easier to to be positive, confident, enthusiastic - happy! But when we hit hard times - health issues, breakdown in relationships, loss of work, financial difficulties - it's hard to stay positive, confident, enthusiastic...

For me it's a question of belief ... what is the source of my confidence? Is my confidence based on my current situation or circumstances; my job, my employer, my relationships with others, how much money I have in the bank...? Is my confidence rooted in what I can do, my resources, skills or past experiences... What I know from life's journey? Well, what do I know? For me, it's a question of faith - what I really believe, and holding on to that belief whatever circumstances I find myself in, and allowing all those experiences to develop - strengthen - what I believe.

I can look back over my life and see that through the high and lows, my faith in an eternal God who wants the best for me, has carried me through. It's not always plain sailing - Life is a journey with many twists and turns, a series of experiences and ever changing circumstances - my God is a constant companion on the journey - He is interested in what happens and works on my behalf for a good outcome. It's not always a bed of roses but I know that in all things God is working for me as I put my confidence in Him and try to be consistent - authentic and real - in my beliefs and lifestyle. As I think on what I have seen God do for me in the past, my faith - my confidence in God - is strengthened and I can be authentic whatever life brings...

Whatever our circumstances today - whatever our fears, worries, concerns - there is a God who wants to walk the journey with us, and he reaches out to us through Jesus...