Faith Looks Like

Paula Shockley
Aug 7
2 min read

Foreground (Center or Foreground-Left):

A modern Black woman or man sitting or standing peacefully in a simple outdoor setting — like a community garden, bus stop, or sidewalk — with a look of contented confidence, not surrounded by wealth, but clearly at peace.

Gesture:

The person is offering food, water, or supplies (such as a sandwich, umbrella, or blanket) to someone in need — a stranger, child, or elderly person.

Their posture is open and face serene, suggesting they trust they’ll always have enough to give.

Background (Right or behind them):

A subtle depiction of a vine or tree with branches reaching outward and upward — symbolizing both God’s provision and fruitful generosity.

Possibly include a faint biblical scene in soft-focus (like Abraham and Sarah laughing with a child or a crowd being fed) to hint at the miraculous and historical faithfulness of God. — Created using ChatGPT

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people he chose for his inheritance.

13 From heaven the Lord looks down

and sees all mankind;

14 from his dwelling place he watches

all who live on earth—

15 he who forms the hearts of all,

who considers everything they do.

(Psalm 33:12-15)

Contented confidence and compassionate care could be our motto as followers of Christ. In Luke 12, Jesus expounded on the ways that our trust in God should inform our lives - shaping our behavior by molding our hearts. In verses 22-31 Jesus taught that worry is both pointless and unnecessary. Worry can't change anything and, since we know God cares for us, there is no need to worry anyway. Then in verses 32-34, Jesus explained how being free from worry over God's daily provision can and should also free us to extend care to others because we have no need to hoard what we have. Trusting God means knowing that whatever we have can be used to

bless beyond ourselves.

None of this should have been new to Jesus' listeners. The Old Testament is all about God providing for God's people in miraculous ways, especially when all seemed lost, and God calling God's people to give justice and care to all. This week's passage from Genesis reminds us that God fulfilled God's seemingly impossible promise to give Abraham and Sarah a child, though she had been barren and both of them were beyond child-bearing years. Our passage from Isaiah 1 tells how nothing we attempt to do for God will matter if we are not doing good and ensuring justice. Like people throughout biblical history, we need the reminder that we can trust God to provide what we need and that we are called to share that provision. It's hard to imagine, in our consumerist culture, but there is no shortage of resources - there is only a shortage of compassion. There is enough for everyone if we value everyone enough. Because we can be confident and content in God's compassionate care for us, we can freely and compassionately care for others. That's what faith looks like.

18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

even as we put our hope in you.

(Psalm 33:18-22)