The stronger my faith got, the more obstacles that were thrown my way.

When I was newly planted in my faith, I thought that things were supposed to be easier. I thought that I could maneuver through life without a target on my back. I'd go to church out of routine, bow my head and say a prayer before each meal, and threw out a scripture every now and then as a response to someone's question. That's what I found myself doing in my late teens and early 20s. To my surprise, I began struggling more as I studied the bible consistently on my own and not only open it for weekend church services and midweek bible study.

There were times when I was without a job. There were times that I struggled with having faith that God would show up when I wanted. The truth was, I wanted the victory without having to endure the struggle. I'd find myself asking, was God really listening? Were my problems not important enough to warrant a miracle, or even just a sign of what to do next?

It's easy to forget about the waiting process. Somehow, I thought church attendance and nightly prayers would shield me from it all. I was wrong. Often times, my faith was challenged. In certain moments, my flesh was challenged even more.