Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash edited by picsart
Note: This blog draws on a religious example from my life to explore Faith, but my aim is to offer a universal perspective on Faith that speaks to everyone, no matter your beliefs.
A Day of Reflection
I was in 11th grade, studying computer science in college. It was an ordinary day, but something unusual occurred that taught me valuable life lessons. During the physical training period, my friend was playing cricket as usual, while I stayed in the classroom, solving physics numericals. Though I was physically present, my mind was elsewhere, reflecting on faith in God. Specifically, I was reflecting two significant incidents from Islamic history.
The Man in the Tree
A man heard that God is the provider of food and decided to test this belief. He climbed a tree and hid, waiting to see how God would provide for him. Every day, another man came with a plate of food intended for a needy person, but seeing no one, he returned home. On the third day, the man in the tree spoke up, and the person with the food gave it to him. That day, the man in the tree realized that while faith in God is essential, one must also make an effort to receive His blessings.
Another story tells of a man who left his camels, entrusting them to God’s protection by praying, “Oh Lord, protect my camels.” However, he didn’t tie them up, and the camels wandered off and were lost. Later, someone advised him, “Tie your camels first, then ask for God’s protection.” The lesson is that while faith in God is important, you must also take practical steps to secure what you value.
Testing Faith in the Classroom
In my classroom, I decided to test the idea of "God's protection." Many people have blind faith in God, but some choose to test what they read or learn, even when it involves God. My friend, who had just returned from playing cricket, excitedly told me how he won the match. Meanwhile, I didn’t play or enjoy cricket and was lost in deep thoughts.
My friend noticed I wasn’t listening to him and got upset. He said, “Listen to me, or I’ll break your pen.” It was an unfair demand, but it gave me an idea to test “God’s protection.” I said, “No, you can’t.” He was standing close to me, and when he saw I didn’t care about his proud talk, he quickly grabbed my pen. In 5 to 10 seconds, as I said, “I put this pen under the Lord’s protection,” he threw it on the ground and crushed it with his foot. With that, both my pen and my heart broke into pieces.
Moment of Broken Pen and Tested Faith
It was too late; my words reached his ears, but his mind had already acted. He looked at me, shocked, and asked why I said those words. My pen was broken, but I felt a small spark of hope and faith in my heart. Feeling sad, I carefully picked up all the pieces and put them in a small pocket in my bag. He kept saying sorry, explaining it wasn’t his intention and that he wouldn’t have crushed it if he’d known. He didn’t mean it, so it wasn’t really his fault. I put my head down on the table and didn’t talk to him for the rest of the day. I still remember during the last class, I was drawing something on paper, though I can’t recall what it was.
A Heart Heavy with Questions and Faith
The day ended but a strange feeling was burning inside me. Why didn't I stop him? How could I let this happen? Maybe if I had tried harder I could have saved my pen. I kept thinking it was my fault but I had put my faith in God. How could I face a loss? My mind was full of questions with no answers. Weeks passed but I kept asking myself the same thing and thinking about God's protection. I held onto those broken pieces keeping them with me still believing that somehow a miracle would happen and the loss would be made right.
A Moment of Faith Fulfilled
One day, while solving a math problem, my ballpoint pen ran out of ink. I wasn’t sad, but my face showed a mix of emotions in a second. I took the broken pieces of my old pen (the internal parts) and put them into the outer shell of the pen that had just stopped working. Since ballpoint pens are usually thrown away after one use, I realized God had truly protected the pen I had placed under His care. I felt at peace, knowing the old saying was true: “Faith in God includes faith in His timing.”
The Power of Faith
Whether you believe in God or not, one thing is clear: faith is powerful. With faith, you can find new paths, and if you have a strong vision, faith, and belief, you can overcome any challenge. You don’t need to be religious or follow a specific religion to have faith in your dreams, goals, or vision. But I’m not saying you should never give up. Having faith doesn’t mean hurting yourself over something impossible. Sometimes, it’s okay to let go and use your energy for other positive things.
