The journey of faith often begins with confidence and excitement ,when prayers are answered quickly, abundant provisions ,good health and peace of mind .

The kind of life where verses of encouragement in times of adversity are not very familiar, everything is running smoothly ..mos mos

But sooner or later, life throws waves that shake our confidence. Everything becomes difficult and exhausting . It is in this season when we begin to really understand the difference between believing in God and actually trusting Him.

The tension

Have you ever experienced the tension between Belief and trust? Many people believe in God’s existence, the provider, protector ,creator never as Abba.
Yet trust goes deeper than beliefs. Trust asks of surrender.
It moves believers to depend on God when life does not make sense. Scripture reminds us in proverb 3:5-6 “trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him , and He will make your paths straight “ Trust therefore means choosing God’s wisdom over our limited understanding .
It means surrendering our plans and allowing Him to guide our steps.

What happens when doubt fills the heart?
Disappointments, loss and uncertainty plant seeds of doubt in the heart . And yes even strong believers experience moments where they ask God questions ,
why is this happening?
Where is God In this situation?
Lord why?
And in such situations, many people run to fix everything by themselves, relying on our own strength, intelligence and strategy yet the word of God reminds us that we shouldn’t lean on our own understanding .
The more we depend on ourselves, the more we discover how limited we truly are .
The psalmist writes in psalm 61:2 “from the ends of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

The price of inconsistent trust
Inconsistent trust leads to anxiety and instability in our spiritual walk.
When we trust God only in comfortable Seasons but doubt him in difficult seasons, our faith becomes dependent on circumstances rather than on God’s character.
Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that “you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” peace does not come from perfect situations. It comes from consistent trust in God.

So Faith is rooted not merely in positive thinking but in the character of God revealed in Christ Jesus. At the heart of the gospel is the reminder that God has already proven his faithfulness through Jesus. The cross demonstrates that God’s love is not theoretical - it is sacrificial and enduring.

Because of Christ, believers do not trust God blindly. They trust Him based evidence of his faithfulness throughout history and in their personal lives.

Rising Again and Again
This journey is not free from doubt, but it is marked by resilience. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes ,the child of God rises again through every season of uncertainty.
Your identity is not defined by our fears or failures. It is defined in Christ as 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us “therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. the old has gone, the new is here!”

So Faith; is not absence of questions, it is the courage to keep walking with God even the answers ain’t clear.
The storms of life will come, doubts will arise, and faith will be tested.
But every time a believer chooses to trust God again, faith grows stronger. Psalm 37:5 encourages us to “ commit your way to the lord, trust in Him and He will bring it to pass .”
In the end ,our hopes do not rest in our understanding of life but in the faithfulness of God we trust.
May He grant you the grace to trust Him in everything that happens!

When I look at the known universe,
the spacious firmament,
the blue ethereal sky,
the spangled heavens,
when I trace Orion’s Belt across the night,
Or the tail of Milky Way,
the crescent moon and the morning rising of Venus,
or the distant glow of Jupiter,
I am engulfed in profound, awesome wonder .

For all these declare order,
precision,
and a magnificence beyond the reach of chaos.

And when I turn from the heavens to the works of man,
our inventions,
our systems,
our ingenuity,
I see something remarkable…

but I also see something limited.

For all that we create is secondary.
derived,
An imitation, none an original.
And this forbids me to deny
a greater ingenuity, a primary, divine source
from which all things proceed.

Yet the heavens declare their Creator’s power flawlessly.

I do not need a Jeremiah to tell me
I know it within myself.
I am flawed.
Deeply so.

And in that realization,
another question arises - the ancient question of Psalm 8:

What am I, that You are mindful of me?
What is man, that You should care for him?

From this question,
many answers have emerged.
Whole systems of thought philosophies striving, reaching,
building frameworks in which man stands at the center.

But there is another truth, One that I will call a philosophy,
if only for the sake of expression.
It is the truth that man is not the center but a guest.
A guest in a vast and ordered creation and not only a guest..

but a guest who has dishonored his invitation.

And because of this, incapable of his return,
He requires a mediator,
One to stand between himself and the Source.

One to reconcile what has been broken,
And so, man’s life upon this Earth,
this brief sojourn on a mote of dust,
is not merely life.

It is a kind of death.
A separation.
A fallen state.
And the hope of man

Where’s it to be found?
not found in denial of this depravity,
but in its acknowledgment.
For it is only through burial with the Mediator,
and a circumcision of the heart,
through faith in the operation of God
that man, may rise again.

Therefore;
let no one deceive you
with persuasive words,
with elaborate philosophies,
after the traditions of men
that seek to soften this truth.

For no matter how refined,
how intelligent,
or how compelling a philosophy may be,
it falls short,
if it denies the helplessness and depravity of man.

For it is upon the daily acknowledgment of this death,
constant as the rising sun,
that man’s perpetual renewal into perfection depends.

I wish above all things, that as you die again, you die to live.

Olivia stood in the queue that wound around the make shift reception at the base of the pillar at the Huduma center in GPO. By this time, she was a bit frustrated and somewhat incensed by the masses behind her in the queue who kept on pushing against her back as they made way for the operatives and fellow citizens who constantly shifted stations.

She had arrived in the past half an hour straight from an engineering mechanics class, through the sweltering sunshine across Nairobi that made her back wet with perspiration. “At least its cooler in here” she thought to herself eyeing the nonchalant registrar in a faded black sweater and worn white shirt that seemed to have begged him leave of duty in the morning before he wore it.
Some few days ago she had submitted an application via the eCitizen portal which was to be followed by a physical visit to Huduma Centre for verification. Required documents included the incorrect birth certificate, a sworn affidavit, and parent's IDs; Her meticulous female mind reminded her as she perused through the leaves in a final confirmation bracing for the insipid exchange with the unattractive attendant behind the counter. Her eyes scanned the defective document again. The name and surname of the father identified a man she had never met, be it the mistaken one or his late Father whom she heard she resembles in great detail. In her case and according to those who knew her father the saying was properly “like father like daughter”. She could not help but wonder if this correction was necessary anyway .
The absence of a biological father in the life of Olivia became a blessing more than a curse in its own way.
From childhood she had figured that her true source, progenitor, and sustainer was the ALL- FATHER from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named.
“I have a name that no one knows or will ever know, that name identifies me and embodies my office in the program of God, I am valued in his sight and by his will I exit- an existence I didn’t choose, for he chose me in him before he founded the earth and prepared good works for me that I should walk in them, I was packaged and sent here by a greater power to deliver a gift - that inherent capacity with in me to fulfill a function that meets a need in creation.

I’m not a project in experimentation, I’m not a casual nuisance, neither am I mistake…” she reminded herself fighting the tears that threatened to subject her to a public disgrace. According to her the correct name that was to be entered on the mistaken father and the late one alike is the name of her true father. The one who calls her his own. The one who has given birth to her into a new and living hope which is the strong anchor for her soul and in which she rejoices beyond measure though now for a little while she has had to suffer great trials.
She had made a very sober discovery early in life: That her parents were only stewards over her life given by God. “The lord draws light out of my darkness, behold how that my perceived loss has turned out into the riches of the knowledge of him.” She consoled herself. More than her natural descent she also came from above, born of the word who is Christ- the seed and the pattern man- by the regenerative power of the Spirit of God according to the will of God the father who purposed in himself to give her adoption to sonship according to the glorious riches of his grace.

This is her confidence, Christ in her the hope of Glory!
The tension within her prevailed over her efficacy to compose herself, the majestic tears had their way.
But these ones where not from a heart that was wounded, but from heart that was overjoyed exceedingly having tasted the love of God and bears the testimony of the fatherhood of God. Her spirit cried within her, Abba father!

These words become beliefs. These beliefs become lenses. And through these lenses, I begin to see myself.

I am reminded that I am still an impressionable young mind that needs healing , grounding and love ;so much only Jesus can offer it.
In my search for acceptance, affirmation and appreciation, frantic and futile chase to belong to fit and to be wanted ,
I am reminded that our Heavenly Father, saw the anguish in this endless pursuit. So He sent His Son demolishing our corrupted identities by bearing our sins on the cross. And He put a stamp on everything by rising on the third day, offering us a new identity in Him. When we know Him through His Word, we begin to know ourselves.

So when the doubts persist I choose to trust Him, because Faith really is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
And one thing remains unchanged ,He is a better Father, a better Friend, a better Priest.
Scripture says:
He is the Friend who sticks closer than a brother
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
Our High Priest:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin.” Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

He understands. He empathizes. He intercedes. Our identities do not begin with our pasts or our traumas.

They begin IN CHRIST:

You are loved.

Not because you performed.

Not because you earned it.

Not because you proved worthy.

But because the Father decided.

And His decision stands

Love sits again and again at the round table of many human conversations, yet we keep circling the truth like detectives afraid their hunch is right. Love is that persistent mystery that stubbornly refuses to be solved-not because it cannot be, but because we continually turn a blind eye to the facts laid bare before us.

Maybe, we simply are not ready to embrace the truth yet.

We talk about love as a casual event, a spark between two fated human beings, flapping butterflies, frequent visits to the world of fantasy and a sprinkle of delusion. I mean, being delulu is the solulu, right?

For us love is marked by fresh aromatic flowers, expensive gift bags, fancy restaurant dates that leave us with bills that hurt more than the breakup, weekly almost daily social media posts, holding hands in public, you name it. Everything except what love truly is.

But I believe there is a Book, as I like to call it, the Basic Instructions to Best Love Eternally, the Bible.

Here is what Love tells us about love. Yes, Love, because God is love.

If God had waited for love to “just happen,” or paused until He found something in us worth loving, would love toward us ever have materialized at all? Left to our own devices, we rarely present a compelling case, often drifting, dodging, and falling short of the very good we’re called to embody. Yet He chose intentionally, unwaveringly, He chose to love us. And that decision speaks volumes.

Love is a choice.

Boring, right? We want slow, romantic background music as our paths cross dramatically.

But that’s exactly where we miss the mark. Love is not a k-drama scene.

We have to make the choice to love someone; whether our partners, friends, or even family. We may like them, yes, but love? Love is an intentional decision. And one thing about such decisions: we make them consciously.

Then the Bible leans in closer to tell us that love is patient, kind; it does not boast; it keeps no record of wrong and so on. Take a walk through 1 Corinthians 13 to get the details.

And this, this right here, is love.

It is not impatience dressed up in expensive gifts.

It is not rudeness softened by constant postings.

It reaches the very core of a person’s character, the heart.

Love flows from the heart. With pure intentions. Not tied to give-and-take transactions, but offered unconditionally.

Look at Christ’s unconditional love at the cross. He did it knowing not everyone would reciprocate. And even if no one ever did, He still would have.

That is the kind of love God calls us to.

It is not the shenanigans of “If he calls me, then I’ll call back,” or “I will only love to the extent that I am loved.” Love is not two-way traffic negotiated by ego. It’s not about I will love you 50% plus VAT. It is a decision, and when you make it, you make it wholeheartedly.

Love is not tied to material reasons or emotional bargaining. It is the purest way we reflect Christ and act as His ambassadors.

And no, this does not mean losing ourselves in the process. In fact, love begins with us. We must first love ourselves before we can truly love others. The Bible further emphasizes that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves, which means the starting point is within.

So instead of picking up half backed theories from self-proclaimed love scientists, why not walk the journey of truth as given to us in the Bible? Perhaps then we will finally learn not only how to love, but how to be loved.

I am looking down from the porch of heaven and my, oh my… ain’t the world red.

Valentine’s Day has to be the most celebrated day in the world after the birth of My Son. And business people are not there to play! If it were possible (which it’s not), they would set up a stall shouting:

“Karibia karibia customer! Upate share yako ya world and the moon ya kupea mpoa wako!”
Anyway… love is the most longed-for feeling and the most talked-about subject in the world. And I wish, dear young people, that you would look for the truth from the Author of love Himself — that is, Honorable Me.

Now where should I start?

Oh yes… the love birds.

Oh, how I love to see young people in love. I truly do. And I wish those in love would remember that I understand them, even when other people seem not to. Love between two people was designed to reflect how much My Son loves the Church, because husbands are called to love their wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it, and this is a great mystery concerning Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:25, 32).

It is not about the presents.
It is not about aesthetics.
It is not about posting and reposting.

It is about something bigger. That you will have a relationship that will lead to a marriage where I will be glorified.

Now… my single people.

I see your tears.
I see your situations. I honestly do.

But Kamau, my son… please. Why do you keep calling Njeri to go for supper? Does she own your legs? Oh, she’s not your girlfriend... But she’s your best friend? I told you through My servant Paul to be brothers and sisters, not emotional husband and wife in disguise (1 Timothy 5:1‑2). Why are you using sugarcane as a walking stick?

And Njeri, my daughter… Just because he opens doors for you and calls you every day to eat doesn’t mean you are now his girlfriend. Until he specifically asks you, with his mouth, please, Njeri, tell your heart iache kiherehere iskume damu.

Don’t let your heart fall for signals, even if they are sent by smoke.

And Susan… why are you calling Me your Valentine? I understand the concept, but girl! You haven’t even answered Me when I asked, “What are we?” You are hot sometimes and cold the next. Then suddenly I am your Valentine?

I have been knocking at the door of your heart and I will come in to supper with you if you open it (Revelation 3:20). Remember your first love. Open the door. I will come in. Then I will truly be your valentine.

Dear young people, do not pretend you are too spiritual to have emotions. Do not hide them. Acknowledge them.

Accept the crush.
Accept the smile that appears in open spaces.
Accept the butterflies holding a party in your stomach.
Accept the goosebumps.
Accept the skipped heartbeat.

I made the emotions. I am not shocked by them. I created man in My own image, fearfully and wonderfully, and every good and perfect gift, including your feelings, comes from above (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:14; James 1:17).

But remind your emotions of who is Lord of your heart. Have them submit to Christ. Bring them to Me boldly.

And on those nights when you feel lonely, when everyone seems to have someone except you, come and tell Me without filtering. Present your loneliness. Present your longing. I am close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).

Now… you know what book I recommend? The book of Romans! (Get it?... No? Forget about it) The twelfth chapter and second verse says: “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Do not date because you feel left out.
Do not date because society says time is running.
Do not date because everyone else is.

Date because you know My will.
Date because you desire to glorify My name.
Date because you trust Me with your heart, even as you trust Me with all your soul. Lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5‑6).

And on that day when you see the tall, dark, handsome guy you have prayed for, the one taller than you even when you are in heels, the one I may lead you into, you will realize something: you did not choose him because of height or looks, though they may have contributed something. You will realize I led them to you because their heart is given over to Me and they have learned to care for your heart from Me, and they will love you as Christ loves the Church (Ephesians 5:25).

And when you see the most beautiful girl in the world, you will realize I led you to them not because of their mirror but because of their Maker. Because they are more concerned with pleasing Me than the world. Because their beauty is eternal, and their spirit is gentle, quiet, and strong.

Above all, young people make use of every opportunity, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15‑16).

Do not waste your life waiting for “the one” while ignoring The One. Let your guide be My Holy Word, not Hollywood. Let your standard be Scripture, not social media. Abide in Me. Drink deeply from the depths of my wisdom and knowledge in My Word.

And if you are weary of waiting, come to Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and My yoke is easy and My burden is light, and you will find rest unto your souls (Matthew 11:28‑30).

Relax.

Whether you are in a relationship or single, relax.

Do not succumb to pressure.
Do not fear missing out.

Rest in Me. You are already loved.

Happy Valentine’s, My children.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

This piece is a creative reflection inspired by Scripture. The words, scenarios, and names used are entirely fictional and are intended for teaching, reflection, and encouragement. They do not claim to represent direct revelation from God or refer to any real individuals.