Imani: Faith After Kwanzaa is Just the Beginning of the Journey

Kwanzaa is an African American celebration of community, family, and culture that helps us to reconnect with our African roots. With 2019 being declared the Year of Return in Ghana, celebrating Kwanzaa this year is all the more special for our community.

Centered around family and community, Kwanzaa is celebrated every year from December 26th – January 1st.. There are 7 days in the celebration of Kwanzaa: 

1. Umoja (Unity)
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
5. Nia (Purpose)
6. Kuumba (Creativity)
7. Imani (Faith)

The Imani principle of faith is a deep one. It is about the importance of maintaining faith when faced with struggles and oppression. Knowing the history behind the week-long celebration and the community which traditionally celebrates it, having and maintaining faith has not always been the easiest thing for us to do.

It is not a coincidence that the last principle falls on the first day of the new year. Faith is essential to any aspect of the Christian walk. Without it, we will not make it very far in this life.

What is Faith?

There are lots of ways to express what faith is and how we should embody it. 

• Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.
• “Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.” –Voltaire
• Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
• “Faith is like radar that sees through the fog.” –Corrie ten Boom
• “Faith is reason grown courageous.” –Sherwood Eddy
• May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. {Romans 15:13}

Faith in the Hard Times

So what do the Scriptures have to say on the subject? How can we use those words when we struggle in our lives and relationships?

• Dealing with loss of income or retirement. My husband and I dealt with this in the past and are dealing with it now. I wish that we were struggling with what to do with all of our spare time. Maybe, one day, but loss of income? That seems to be a constant in our marriage. Early in our marriage, my biggest concern was money. Consistently worrying about whether we had enough to cover expenses and fretting over every dollar spent for our wants and needs. Not counting how many times the Word says do not worry, I also forgot about Luke 12:24-24, which says, “Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than birds!” It’s funny how when you ask God for more faith, He will put you in situations that allow for you to get just what you ask for. We lost about 2/3 of our income before it kicked in that I had no other choice but to trust Him with our finances. We’re much poorer these days, but much richer in peace. Take comfort knowing that all will be well.
• Worrying about what you should be doing in life or where your relationship is heading. Isaiah 66:9 says, “I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born, says the Lord.” One of the hardest things to do in a relationship is knowing when it’s time to let it go. I dated soooo many frogs before I met my prince. My goal in life was to be married and I put up with a lot of foolishness in the hope that I would be rewarded with a wedding ring. Every time a relationship failed, it broke my heart. I experienced the hurt of the breakup, compounded by the pain of moving further away from my “happily ever after.” It took a long time for me to realize that He was only moving those jerks out of the way, so that I could have what I was meant to have. Whether it be a relationship, a job, a family, or a big house, sometimes you have to go through the pain for the reward. Keep your faith that all will be well.
• Struggling with any thing, person, or situation. “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” (Phillipians 4:13) I heard, in a sermon, an explanation and application of why God came to earth in the form of His Son. Jesus existed in the flesh so that we would know that He endured everything that we could possibly endure, so that we would know that He understands how we feel. No, we are not Christ. But He made sure that we would have concrete examples to follow when we had to endure our own trials. It’s up to us to follow Him and trust in Him that all will be well.

What are you struggling with in faith? Let me know in the comments below.

Also, read more Scriptures about faith in the hard times.

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Need a way to make this practical? Click here for the Principles of Kwanzaa for a Beautiful Relationship Workbook; you can use it to work through simple, applicable exercises each day of the celebration.