[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ background_color=”#F1F0ED” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_padding=”1px||7px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”95%” max_width=”2000px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_padding=”3px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Philosophers and theologians have debated for thousands of years about what faith is and where it comes from. There is little chance that I, the daughter of a chicken cook from Georgia, could add much to such a grand discussion that has been going on for millennia. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, I want to keep things simple by focusing on the two definitions of faith that have meant the most to me\u2014one from Scripture and one from a dear friend and ministry partner.<\/p>\n
The author of the book of Hebrews provides what many believe to be the<\/i> definition of biblical faith: \u201cFaith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see\u201d (Hebrews 11:1, nlt). I like that: the evidence of things we cannot see.<\/i> A great illustration of this is a chair. More often than not, when you choose to sit in a chair you don\u2019t question whether it will support you. It could also be something as mundane as trusting that your spouse will pick you up from the airport like they said they would. After all, you aren\u2019t in the car with them. You\u2019ve told them what time to arrive and trusted them when they said they would be there. Using the Bible\u2019s terminology, you cannot see<\/i> them, but you can still be sure they\u2019ll be there. If we weren\u2019t sure, we would have backup plans, wouldn\u2019t we? We would have our spouse\u2019s assurance and<\/i> we would have a rental car reservation and<\/i> we would most likely have the Uber app open and ready to order a ride home. But we don\u2019t do that, do we? No, we trust what our spouse tells us. We have faith<\/i> in them. And we step out of the airport fully expecting to see them drive up, ready to take us home.<\/p>\n
Of course, if your spouse has a long history of breaking promises, you may have a weaker faith. If your spouse has a long track record of showing up for you in the face of any obstacle, you\u2019ll have a stronger faith. Either way, it\u2019s still faith that you\u2019re demonstrating. And that personal experience with the object of your faith brings me to my second-favorite definition of faith. Jonathan Morrow, our colleague at the Impact 360 Institute<\/span><\/a> gap year program, defines faith as active trust in what you have good reason to believe is true<\/i>. I love this understanding of faith! It\u2019s active trust<\/i> in that faith calls you to do something, but it\u2019s not blind <\/i>faith. Rather, it\u2019s trusting in something that has proven itself to be true<\/i>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”95%” max_width=”2000px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/liveoriginal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Trudy-Cathy-Blog-2.png” title_text=”Trudy-Cathy-Blog-2″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/liveoriginal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Trudy-Cathy-Blog.png” title_text=”Trudy-Cathy-Blog” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/liveoriginal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Trudy-Cathy-Blog-3.png” title_text=”Trudy-Cathy-Blog-3″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”95%” max_width=”2000px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_padding=”||11px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Again, if your spouse has shown over and over that they\u2019ll move heaven and earth to keep their word to you, you have every reason to put your active trust <\/i>in them to pick you up at the airport. They\u2019ve given you no reason to doubt, just like a chair has given you no reason to suspect it will collapse beneath you. This kind of faith is not blind, and it is not based on how you may feel <\/i>at any given moment. It is reasonable. It\u2019s based on the truth you have good reason to believe. We can have that same certainty when it comes to our faith in God. We don\u2019t have to simply \u201ctrust and believe\u201d with no evidence whatsoever of God\u2019s presence. No, we can point to the Lord\u2019s long history of intervention in our lives and in the lives of others. We can examine the miracles He\u2019s brought about, the comfort He\u2019s provided, and the devotion of those who have put their faith in Him. We can look at the beauty of a sunset or the intricacies of a DNA molecule and trust that there is a master painter and architect behind it. We can point to history, archaeology, science, and other sources of information. We do not have to be afraid of empirical evidence\u2014we should use it!<\/p>\n I\u2019m grateful for how the Lord has strengthened my faith along the journey of life. With each passing year, I see the faithfulness of God further cementing my faith in who He is, why I trust Him, and how I know \u2013 beyond a doubt \u2013 He holds my future. Where have you seen evidence of the Lord\u2019s faithfulness in your own journey? I pray you allow it to strengthen your trust in the things we cannot see.<\/p>\n Excerpted with permission from A Legacy that Lasts by\u00a0Trudy\u00a0Cathy\u00a0White\u00a0(January 17, 2023). Copyright 2023, Forefront Publishing.<\/em><\/p>\n Trudy Cathy White is a native Georgian and the only daughter of Jeannette and S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, Inc. An ambassador for the family business, Trudy has held various roles within Chick-fil-A including that of restaurant operator at just 19 years old. White and her husband, John, served as missionaries in Brazil and co-founded Lifeshape and Impact 360 Institute. A developer and encourager at heart, White served as the Director of WinShape Camps for Girls from 2003-2017. She is a speaker, author, dedicated wife, mother of four, and grandmother of sixteen. Every day she is fueled by her passion to be intentional with her influence. A Legacy that Lasts will be available nationwide on January 17, 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n Keep up with Trudy on Instagram @trudycathywhite<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Philosophers and theologians have debated for thousands of years about what faith is and where it comes from. There is little chance that I, the daughter of a chicken cook from Georgia, could add much to such a grand discussion that has been going on for millennia. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, I\u2026 Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":269,"featured_media":226677,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Philosophers and theologians have debated for thousands of years about what faith is and where it comes from. There is little chance that I, the daughter of a chicken cook from Georgia, could add much to such a grand discussion that has been going on for millennia. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, I want to keep things simple by focusing on the two definitions of faith that have meant the most to me\u2014one from Scripture and one from a dear friend and ministry partner.<\/p> The author of the book of Hebrews provides what many believe to be the<\/i> definition of biblical faith: \u201cFaith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see\u201d (Hebrews 11:1, nlt). I like that: the evidence of things we cannot see.<\/i> A great illustration of this is a chair. More often than not, when you choose to sit in a chair you don\u2019t question whether it will support you. It could also be something as mundane as trusting that your spouse will pick you up from the airport like they said they would. After all, you aren\u2019t in the car with them. You\u2019ve told them what time to arrive and trusted them when they said they would be there. Using the Bible\u2019s terminology, you cannot see<\/i> them, but you can still be sure they\u2019ll be there. If we weren\u2019t sure, we would have backup plans, wouldn\u2019t we? We would have our spouse\u2019s assurance and<\/i> we would have a rental car reservation and<\/i> we would most likely have the Uber app open and ready to order a ride home. But we don\u2019t do that, do we? No, we trust what our spouse tells us. We have faith<\/i> in them. And we step out of the airport fully expecting to see them drive up, ready to take us home.<\/p> Of course, if your spouse has a long history of breaking promises, you may have a weaker faith. If your spouse has a long track record of showing up for you in the face of any obstacle, you\u2019ll have a stronger faith. Either way, it\u2019s still faith that you\u2019re demonstrating. And that personal experience with the object of your faith brings me to my second-favorite definition of faith. Jonathan Morrow, our colleague at the Impact 360 Institute<\/span><\/a> gap year program, defines faith as active trust in what you have good reason to believe is true<\/i>. I love this understanding of faith! It\u2019s active trust<\/i> in that faith calls you to do something, but it\u2019s not blind <\/i>faith. Rather, it\u2019s trusting in something that has proven itself to be true<\/i>.<\/p> [gallery size=\"full\" ids=\"38056,38054,38055\"]<\/p> Again, if your spouse has shown over and over that they\u2019ll move heaven and earth to keep their word to you, you have every reason to put your active trust <\/i>in them to pick you up at the airport. They\u2019ve given you no reason to doubt, just like a chair has given you no reason to suspect it will collapse beneath you. This kind of faith is not blind, and it is not based on how you may feel <\/i>at any given moment. It is reasonable. It\u2019s based on the truth you have good reason to believe. We can have that same certainty when it comes to our faith in God. We don\u2019t have to simply \u201ctrust and believe\u201d with no evidence whatsoever of God\u2019s presence. No, we can point to the Lord\u2019s long history of intervention in our lives and in the lives of others. We can examine the miracles He\u2019s brought about, the comfort He\u2019s provided, and the devotion of those who have put their faith in Him. We can look at the beauty of a sunset or the intricacies of a DNA molecule and trust that there is a master painter and architect behind it. We can point to history, archaeology, science, and other sources of information. We do not have to be afraid of empirical evidence\u2014we should use it!<\/p> I\u2019m grateful for how the Lord has strengthened my faith along the journey of life. With each passing year, I see the faithfulness of God further cementing my faith in who He is, why I trust Him, and how I know \u2013 beyond a doubt \u2013 He holds my future. Where have you seen evidence of the Lord\u2019s faithfulness in your own journey? I pray you allow it to strengthen your trust in the things we cannot see.<\/p> Excerpted with permission from A Legacy that Lasts by\u00a0Trudy\u00a0Cathy\u00a0White\u00a0(January 17, 2023). Copyright 2023, Forefront Publishing.<\/em><\/p> Trudy Cathy White is a native Georgian and the only daughter of Jeannette and S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, Inc. An ambassador for the family business, Trudy has held various roles within Chick-fil-A including that of restaurant operator at just 19 years old. White and her husband, John, served as missionaries in Brazil and co-founded Lifeshape and Impact 360 Institute. A developer and encourager at heart, White served as the Director of WinShape Camps for Girls from 2003-2017. She is a speaker, author, dedicated wife, mother of four, and grandmother of sixteen. Every day she is fueled by her passion to be intentional with her influence. A Legacy that Lasts will be available nationwide on January 17, 2023.<\/em><\/p>