Virtue 1: Lively Faith vs. the Doubt of Control
- Beata
- Jun 17
- 4 min read
Blog Series: The 7 Virtues of Mary
In today’s reflection on Lively Faith vs. the Doubt of Control, we consider how Mary teaches us to let go of fear... but before you start the current blog you may find helpful the explanation from the intro:
Lively Faith vs. the Doubt of Control
We live in a world where certainty feels like the only safe place.
We want to control — to plan, to know, to predict.
Faith often feels like stepping into a fog, unsure of what’s ahead, not knowing how to hold on.
But Lively Faith isn’t about having it all figured out.
It’s about trusting, even when we don’t have control.
It’s the courage to step forward, even with doubts. To be like Abraham, called to leave everything behind, knowing only that God would lead.
In this part of the journey, I find myself standing between two inner forces—lively faith vs. the doubt of control—where trust invites surrender, but fear clings to the need for certainty.
The Flaw: Doubt of Control
Control feels safe. It gives the illusion of strength — of having everything in order, of avoiding surprises.
But control can become a quiet prison. It narrows our world to only what we can manage, what we can understand, what we can predict.
When we cling to control, we begin to doubt that anything good can happen unless we’re the ones making it happen. We carry weight we were never meant to hold — and we call it responsibility, when it’s often just fear in disguise.
Control keeps us from acting unless the outcome is guaranteed.
And so we hesitate.
We freeze.
We live small.
Faith, however, asks us to trust even when the map is missing — to move before all the questions are answered.
The Virtue: Lively Faith (Mary’s Way)
Mary’s faith isn’t passive. It’s alive. It’s an action — a surrender that breathes, moves, and transforms.
When the angel appeared, she was troubled — not faithless, but human. She asked,
“How can this be?”
not to resist, but to understand. And when understanding didn’t come, she still said yes:
“Let it be done to me according to Your Word.”
In that moment, Mary teaches us that faith begins where certainty ends. Her faith isn’t built on having all the answers — it’s built on knowing Who speaks.
Lively faith isn’t blind; it’s relational. It hears God’s voice and leans into it, even in the dark.
Mary doesn’t need to see the whole path ahead. She doesn’t demand signs or control. She trusts that God’s will is not only enough — it’s good.
And that is the difference between stagnant belief and living faith.
Her yes echoes through centuries not because She knew everything, but because She believed in everything God said — and acted on it.
Lively faith is not the absence of questions, but the presence of trust.
Symbol: Rose
The rose grows amid thorns, yet its beauty is not in its absence of struggle, but in its ability to bloom regardless.
Lively faith is not a serene, uninterrupted journey — it’s faith that blooms through difficulties, trusting that beauty comes through surrender.
Bible Verse:
"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.” — Luke 1:45
Quote from Alicja Lenczewska:
“Trust. What is unseen is more real than what you see.”
“Zaufaj. To, co niewidoczne, jest bardziej prawdziwe niż to, co widzisz.”
Mary Enters the Scene
Here she is again, the woman who trusts completely, the one who doesn’t demand answers. She doesn’t speak with certainty, but with quiet hope, and her trust is enough to change everything.
She says: “Do not be afraid to believe.”
And the sword of the Word she brings pierces the doubt that keeps you in chains: “With God, nothing is impossible.”
Reflection
🌿🌸 Where do I try to control situations instead of surrendering them to God?
🌿🌸 What areas of my life feel uncertain, and how do I respond to that uncertainty?
🌿🌸 Can I trust in God’s plan, even when I can’t see it?
Prayer
Mary, Mother of Lively Faith, teach me to trust like you.
May your bold surrender guide my heart when doubt and control hold me captive.
Holy Spirit, breathe courage into my soul. Help me trust even when I cannot see the path.
Amen.
Join the Journey of Virtue 🩷🌿🩷
As we reflect on the virtues of Mary — especially the contrast between Lively Faith vs. the Doubt of Control — let us commit to growing in holiness each day.
This spiritual journey invites us to let go of the need to control and instead embrace a living, trusting faith like Mary’s. It’s a path that requires both patience and perseverance, but with Mary’s example and intercession, we are never alone. I invite you to continue walking this path of transformation, allowing her virtues to shape your heart and guide you closer to God’s will for your life.
What virtue is calling you to grow in today?
Leave a comment below or share your thoughts with us on social media. 🩷
Let’s support each other in this journey of faith, as we work together to become whole and holy, just as Mary did.
Summary 🌿🌸🌿
Faith isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting God even in uncertainty.
This blog explores how Mary’s lively faith confronts the doubt of control. With Scripture, symbolism, and prayer, we learn to surrender the need to control, opening our hearts to the beauty of God’s plan.
Coming soon. Let's continue with Virtue 2
🌸Virtue 2: Joyful Hope vs. the Despair of Worry
To enrich the topic, I believe you find this post helpful:
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