Devoted Blog

Legacy of Faith

March 13, 2019

Legacy Series: A Legacy of Faith

Blog by Christina Holt

What happens when life throws you something unexpected?

Do you pray? Are you thankful? Are you overwhelmed with fear? Do you avoid it hoping it will go away? Do you pinch yourself hoping it’s only a dream?

Well, this is exactly what happened to me. Life was happening the way I thought it was supposed to; but then I was hit with the unexpected. Four years ago, at the age of twenty four with a two-month-old baby girl, I lost a loving husband who couldn’t wait to be a dad. In one second, I no longer had a husband. In one second, our daughter no longer had a father. In one second, I was a widow and a single mother.

I prayed, but I prayed for God to give me my husband back. And thankful? What could I be thankful for? I left the hospital hoping to walk into my house to a husband and daughter. Instead, I walked into my parents’ house and wept. I wanted it to go away. I wanted it to only be a dream, but it wasn’t. This was going to be the hardest thing I would ever have to go through.

 Friends, l share this with you because it’s real. Life will throw you something unexpected; BUT, let me also share this with you. We serve a God who loves you, cares for you, sees you and meets you right where you are. In one second, I had a choice to make. It was a choice I grew up learning from my parents. A choice that would change my perspective on life forever. A choice I hope would impact not only me, but my children and their children. A choice I hope would impact people all over the world.

Pure gold put in fire comes out of it proved genuine; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. [1 Peter 1:6-7 MSG]

I chose FAITH over FEAR. I chose to trust that God was going to get me through it. But guess what? It didn’t stop there, this was a daily choice. Day in and day out, I had to make the same choice. Every day, I still have to. It’s a declaration over my life that no matter what happens, God’s got me and I’m going to make it. It’s understanding that life is going to be hard; it’s not always going to feel good, but I’m still going to make it! I chose to have faith and remember  [Romans 8:28] that God is working all things together for my good. We aren’t called to live in fear, we are called to live by faith. A legacy I pray will flow into my children and grand children’s lives, the way it has in mine.

When I think of legacy, I think of leaving something behind. It’s not just about what we have, but it’s also about who we are. Who you are is your legacy. The way we live, the way we love, the way we impact others all play a role in the legacy we leave behind. Carmine left a legacy for our daughter, Roma, when he went to be with Jesus; a legacy she will hear about everyday. A legacy of faith and trust in a God that loves her and has a plan just for her; a legacy from her parents she will be able to pass on to her children.

As we create our legacies, we will encounter both good and bad days, but we have the opportunity to allow these experiences to shape and mold us into the person God is calling us to be. Losing my husband, experiencing grief, and watching Roma play without a dad were the hardest moments of my life. However, God had a plan and I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without those experiences. Without them, I wouldn’t be as grateful for the blessings God has given me. Like providing me with an amazing new husband who loves God, loves me, and loves Roma like his own. Having this faith is what fuels me to continue my journey and continue creating a legacy for my children. 

The truth is, we all have a legacy to leave behind, whether that be a legacy of faith, of perseverance, of kindness, or of strength. It’s our choice to make sure we live out a legacy worth leaving. If something were to happen to you today, what would you be leaving behind?  

Press into God like never before, change your perspective to God’s truth and surround yourself with a community that loves you and points you towards Jesus! That alone will set you up to live a legacy worth leaving.

 

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