What is the meaning of faith?
How can we keep faith when nothing seems to be going right?
Where can we find motivation and optimism when we are feeling defeated?
Football is a great passion in my life and I have been known to sing on the terraces in the past (if you can call it singing). One of the great football anthems is "You'll Never Walk Alone". Adopted by Liverpool fans and hijacked by many others it really stirs the emotions.
The original version has such classic and inspirational words. "When you walk through a storm hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark."
Throughout life we have difficult and troublesome times. There can be many roads to take and we don't know which one to take. We stumble along the wrong road until we realise our mistake and then we wander back to the junction to try again. Don't lose hope, don't lose faith. God has shown us that we were taking the wrong road and has brought us back to the beginning to try again. Eventually the route becomes obvious and our path is no longer shrouded in darkness and we can see the "Golden Sky" and hear the "Sweet Silver Song of the Lark".
"Walk on with hope in your heart and you'll never walk alone". Without hope we can so easily give in. It will feel like we are alone with no help or guidance to get us out of our predicaments. But with unflinching hope and indestructible faith in God there is no need to walk alone. Gods' intention for every single one of us is to enjoy the abundances that he has placed in this world, and by allowing him to walk alongside us he will guide us to the kind of lives we want to lead.
Hope and faith in turn provides the optimism, motivation and drive to succeed. If our problems seem hopeless we become depressed by our situation and we can only focus on the problems. With faith and self confidence comes optimism and it then becomes so much easier to concentrate on the solutions. It seems almost miraculous how problems are no longer viewed as problems but are seen as challenges, challenges that are relished with solutions more easily found.
In order to move forward in life we have to step outside our comfort zone; "don't be afraid of the dark". It takes courage to take this step but it is surprising how stepping outside the comfort zone becomes "the comfort zone". We are no longer afraid of the dark. Having taken the risk and survived with God holding our hand, we know that with his guidance we can do the same again.
When our troubles get on top of us we need to take time out to find that quiet place within us. By being still and asking God to come into our lives reaffirms our faith in him and that flame of hope is re-ignited within our souls.
Remember the next time we see those hordes of red and white scarves accompanying the melody of "You'll Never Walk Alone", it is not about inspiring Liverpool Football Club onto victory, it's about inspiring us with hope and faith to be successful and live the lives we want.
How fantastic is that?
Terry Noprrington
