“if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Colossians 1:23
There are people that we encounter who possess beautiful souls. They a have a quality that is endearing and you feel hopeful because of their encouraging dispositions. On the darkest of days, these are the people who give a glimpse of positivity that ensures that everything will be alright. We love them, and we expect them to always be in this type of mood. We never anticipate that they have obstacles, sadness, pains, disappointments, and hurts that fill their lives. Somehow they just choose not to succumb to it all, and they push through their circumstances with a great sense of determination and vigor. When something happens or changes in their lives, we realize how much it changes ours. We realize that this person has been an influential staple not only in our lives but in the lives of others.
Within the past few years, some of these precious friends, colleagues, and family who have made people their very best have departed from this earth. Sad, but there is comfort in knowing where they are and knowing that one day we will be reunited with them. We have watched some of our loved ones show their faith and belief until the very end of their lives. Some were loudly exclaiming while others were a little more subdued. The “how” doesn’t matter as much as the image of Christ that prevails in them.
In my last entry, I discussed faith with and without works and the importance of distinguishing intellectual and active faith. Recently, a group of professionals experienced an unexpected loss. It was sudden and without warning. A colleague who had been diagnosed with an illness eight years ago was presented with a challenge and rose to fight without ceasing. Her fighting was not only physically; it was mentally and emotionally met with faith and perseverance. Everyone joined the challenge of fighting with her. She talked about her faith maintained a confident, sweet disposition that encouraged others around her. Her faith was strong, and her peers could see Christ in her with every smile, every kind word, every hug, and every nugget of wisdom.
James says, “So faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). This colleague could have given up, succumbed to depression, and renounced her faith. She didn’t. Giving back to the community, ensuring that her children had her time and attention, working with the ladies within the church, and listening and giving advice to friends and colleagues was her passion. It is important to remember that faith does not mean that there won’t be trials; it is how we persevere that matters.
As I think about this colleague and friend, I am reminded of the strength of her faith that showed through her laughter and pearls of wisdom to young people. Her faith was not without works; nor did she retain it for herself. She put action to her belief. Even in the dark spaces and hardships; she exuded beauty. There are so many ways to look at her life, but the one thing that all will agree upon is that she didn’t just talk her faith, but she walked her faith for all to see.
We all reflect on our faith. Are we storing our knowledge for intellectual purposes (dead faith)? Or are we sharing and putting our actions into encouraging others to obedient and righteous living? Finding joy in our trials produces perseverance. If you reflect on the observation of others’ trials, and your own struggles, are you able to see the beauty in the hardship?
CrayDawg, Inc (c) 2025
Coffee Reflections 