Asking for the Faith You Want

Are you on a journey to rediscover your faith, nurture your relationship with Jesus, or strengthen your spiritual beliefs? Often, the path to spiritual growth and faith development lies in a fundamental shift: knowing what you want and asking for it. Not asking can significantly impede your connection with God’s calling and hinder your progress on the road of discipleship.

Developing faith isn’t just about embracing a set of beliefs; it’s about knowing what you want in your faith and investing everything you go into it. This understanding sets the stage for substantial personal growth. As you navigate life’s choices guided by your faith, you open doors to experiences that possess the power to transform your life in ways unimaginable.

Allow me to share a personal experience that underscores the importance of this principle. I completed a year-long program aimed at equipping me to become a clinical pastor. This program provided structure but also nurtured personal growth, with the core principle that to help others, you must first help yourself.

During the program’s initial days, a pivotal moment occurred. My supervisor posed a seemingly simple yet profound question: What did I want? Initially, my response followed the expected script, laden with the “right words and phrases” designed to appease. However, it was evident that my words weren’t working. After stopping my rambling to say the right thing, my supervisor asked if I was ready to share what I really wanted. I was caught off guard. For a person who had always relied on saying the right things, I struggled to articulate what I really wanted. I knew what I wanted, but had never spoken it to others.

With courage, I eventually expressed my true desires: to meet with a spiritual director and be mentored by someone who had embraced a monastic lifestyle. Although I uttered these words, I couldn’t imagine that it was possible. The program’s rigid structure—no absences allowed—seemed incompatible with my aspirations.

Remarkably, my supervisor’s response shattered any doubts about doing what I wanted. She urged me to draft a proposal outlining my desires, reassuring me that there was a way to integrate them into the program. She even went the extra mile to provide a specific individual who could serve as my spiritual director. This unexpected encouragement left me speechless.

Encouraged by this support, I dared to voice another aspiration—to dedicate time to reading, writing, and reflecting on my faith. Again, my supervisor’s response was affirmative: “Yes, you need that. Put it in the proposal.”

The outcome of my asking for what I wanted was transformational. Throughout the remainder of the program, I engaged with a spiritual director and spent precious moments in reflection, meditation, and writing. All this was possible because I had identified my desires and vocalized them.

This experience brings to light a profound truth: to receive what you want, you must ask for it. James 4:3 wisely advises that we don’t receive because we ask amiss. Regrettably, some individuals refrain from asking altogether. Yet, if you’re armed with a clear understanding of what you want and a deep care for it, don’t hesitate to ask for it. You might just witness their fulfillment in ways you never imagined.

So, as you tread the path of faith development and spiritual growth, remember this powerful principle: knowing what you want and asking for it can indeed open doors to a future brimming with unique and transformative experiences. After all, embracing what you truly want in faith is the first step towards its realization.