When Whitney Houston (RIP) and Mariah Carey sung, ‘When you believe’, everyone sung the lyrics with such devotion it could have become a worship song. Be it as it may, when a preacher takes to the pulpit to ask the congregation to believe, many roll their eyes at him/her asking if believing ever brought food to table. So, I ask, why did it seem to make a lot of sense when the duo said, “There can be miracles, when you believe. Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill”? When they implored you to hold on hope even when you are so afraid to pray.

My dear, it is the same thing the preacher man or woman is saying to you. They are telling you not to lose hope. Proverbs says in chapter 13, vs 12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick”. Without hope, without believing, life is not worth living.

In a time where everything seems to swing from one normal to another, having hope and being grounded in it helps you remain sane. Otherwise, when news says that an epidemic has hit the country, your heart will sink. Then when the Central Bank says that inflation is going through the roof hence the shilling value is plummeting, the thought of your how you will make it through the high prices that ensue will make you worry some more. Before long, a pyramid scheme will seem an answer only to get scammed.

Why would that be? Your belief system is not centred anywhere and without an anchor, you are akin to a ship tossed by the winds. What stops them from taking you where they please? (Eph 4:14 ESV So that we may no longer be children, tossed (like ships) to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes)

Being grounded also translates into receiving (so I believe as a Christian) because James 1:6 says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

So, as you believe that tomorrow will come thus make plans, believe for your child’s school fees, for that pay rise, and that your child’s mannerisms will get better.

The folly is that many think that believing means never putting in the work. Far from it. To have faith is not idle; you do what needs to be done as you wait and hope that all will get better. And no, it is not folly, doing the same thing that is clearly wrong hoping to get different results on your next try.

People of faith are courageous thus taking leaps uncommon to many yet using their mind very well to ensure it is not wishful thinking.

So, in every facet of life, normalise solid and anchored believing.

Joan S, a journalist, blogger, and parenting coach