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Powered by Faith

May 19, 2025 /

Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17

There is a huge difference between being powered by external stimuli and finding power from within.

Those powered by external circumstances are looking for love and approval in the form of likes, sold out shows and concerts, wealth, praise and relationships.  This is the case with many celebrities.  This is also the same reason why people with so much fame, money and “friends” are often deeply unhappy and resort to extreme measures such as addictions, sexually deviant lifestyles, (excessive) tattoos, public nudity, spending sprees, elaborate vacations and homes to find peace and comfort which cannot be found in worldly things.1 After working so hard and coming up empty, some resort to suicide either directly or indirectly (dying a slow death through addictions and lifestyle choices).  Key examples that come to mind are Kate Spade, Elvis Presley, and Robin Williams. 

I also take this time to point to the frailties and limitations of modern medicine which is in a large part to blame for the global mental health crises. A doctor cannot restore our peace; drugs cannot take away our pain (although they may numb it till the next dose). Demons and past trauma do not respond to medication.2 The only way back to fullness that I know of is FAITH; to renew our mind in the Lord3 and put our faith in God.4 I know this works because this is the path that I took. There may be another way, but I will honestly say to you I tried a lot of ‘ways’ and none of them led to the peace I was looking for except the path of Jesus. Not only was my sanity restored, but I became a completely new creation with a fresh outlook.5

Underneath the need for fame and recognition is childhood trauma. It is the driver that can lead to people obtaining extraordinary ‘success’ on the worldly plan. Eminem, for example, has been through an extraordinary amount of pain and suffering stemning from a broken family home which eventually led to a life plagued by his own difficult relationships, violence and addictions. Although he fought through an incredible amount of barriers, which is commendable, he is still not someone I would want my children listening to.6 I will say this is the case with most, if not all, celebrities.

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 4:21-22

By contrast, being powered by Faith is taping into the power of God.  This yields unshakable confidence and a willingness to do what is right at all costs, even if it means sacrificing relationships and public notoriety. 

Being powered by Faith also requires a strong sense of humility; a realization that God is doing the lifting and not our own strength.7 When God chooses to elevate someone, they will not be shaken.8  It is a one way street up. That is not to say there will not be hard times, but these challenges will be looked on as an opportunity to build and refine character.9 

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalm 55:22

Being powered by Faith means that strength comes from within instead of without.  The entire world may be in chaos but there is a peace within;  an unshakable trust in the Lord that preserves through economic downturn, worldwide plagues and flues and the decline of human morality.10 

I look upon this world in great concern to see what and who we idolize.  Instead of valuing purity, self-respect and self-control we value sexual freedoms.  Many are trading in their bodies for a renovated version instead of being grateful for the body they have been given.  Instead of helping the poor and needy, we help ourselves and over-indulge in life.  Instead of raising our children we give them to someone else to raise.  Instead of looking after our parents we put them in a home. Instead of cooking and growing our own food we go to the grocery store and eat take out.  This is not the way God intended life to be.11

Human morality is at al all-time low verging on insanity.  As prosperity increases and technology advances, the quality of life diminishes. Instead of opting for human connection we choose inanimate objects. We put cell phones in the hands of babies to keep them quiet instead of providing comforting motherly love. Although the consequences of some of our actions are not yet visible or we choose to be willfully blind to them, eventually disorder will strike at level that is undeniable that will eventually lead to change. Unfortunately, human beings are inherently lazy; we don’t change unless we have to.12

For those of you who don’t know, God is not in your phone.  He is not in sexual ‘identity’ or activity either.  He is not in your husband or wife. He is not in the feel good worldly lusts that give you a temporary high like motorbiking or extreme sports.  He is not in the crowd applauding you as you go up on stage and perform in a next-to-nude outfit before millions of fans.  He is that quiet confidence that lives within you. His voice can be heard only in silence and by reading His word.  Once you connect to this, you won’t need to look anywhere else.

  1. See Romans 8:6 – The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ↩︎
  2. See Matthew 17:21 – But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting ↩︎
  3. See Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ↩︎
  4. We also must ‘feel it to heal it.’ Trauma lives within our souls which have been taken over by darkness. To restore the light we must feel and release the most unpleasant emotions including grief, anger, rage, sadness, jealousy, unforgiveness and so on. The unwillingness to release these very unpleasant emotions is why most people never completely heal.
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  5. See 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ↩︎
  6. I am very grateful to Marshall Mathers, whose music helped me through some of the darkest moments of my life. ↩︎
  7. See John 15:5 –  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ↩︎
  8. See Deuteronomy 28:1 – 1 “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. Also see Deuteronomy 26:19 – He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.
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  9. See Romans 5:3-5 …we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance , proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts though the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ↩︎
  10. See Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. ↩︎
  11. See Jeremiah 29:5-7 – Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. ↩︎
  12. Myself included. My situation was one of ‘change or die’ which eventually and arduously led to a dramatic life-altering transformation and new identity. ↩︎