Ready For Faith?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
Can you say that you are ready to step out in faith? Suppose that God disappoints you? This won’t be the first time either. The very thing you have been praying about earnestly isn’t happening. In fact, you can’t seem to find any solutions after prayer. The cancer is spreading; the child is still rebelling; the job hasn’t come through; your husband is unfaithful……the list goes on and on.
You have been beseeching God to supply His goodness to the circumstances of your life but your prayers seem to go unanswered. Now what? Can you still say, “Yes, Lord, I believe”? Are you ready for a faith that doesn’t seem to be working? Does your faith depend on the answers that you receive?
Perhaps we aren’t praying because we don’t want to put God to the test. He just might not answer our requests in the way we would like. Can God really be trusted with my faith? Perhaps I have too little faith. Perhaps that is why my prayers aren’t being answered.
As I write this article on faith I realize more has been written on this subject than any other……..prayer and suffering come close. I wrestle with the same dilemma as you. Why isn’t God moving in this request? Will my faith withstand the pressure of God’s “NO”?
Faith is multifaceted. There are many sides to our faith. First, we realize that Someone beyond ourselves is in control of our world. Secondly, there is evil that persists in this world, despite our prayers and faith. Faith realizes that we ourselves cannot control this evil. Therefore we turn to the Source of Power. He is moving, although we can’t understand how He can allow the evil to maintain the hold on man’s human condition.
Therefore Faith is daring! We must be daring (Luke 5:1-9).We dare to maintain Faith regardless of the circumstances. The prayers that aren’t answered must bring us greater faith. Yes, you do have enough faith…….even a mustard seed faith is all the Lord requires. Sin seems to have the upper hand but Faith will move mountains (Matthew 17:14-20).
When I only give thanks for some things, aren’t I likely to miss giving God glory in most things?
Faith maintains its relationship to God regardless of the outcome of prayer. The great and faithful apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church (Philippians 4:4) “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!” Do you mean always, Paul? Look at my troubles……can I really rejoice in them?
It seemed as though Faith might lose it’s hold on the followers of our Lord at the crucifixion. How could they possibly bring the Kingdom to others when their very Messiah was dead! But the third day proved that faith had won (Matthew 28:1-10). Now their faith has provided strength and they willingly gave themselves to preaching the Gospel to the world (Romans 10:16-18; Colossians 1:3-6,21-23).
Faith increases when we throw ourselves on the mercy of God. Regardless of the outcome of prayer, God judges the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God’s mercies are great……..although our faith is weak. His ways are not our ways! (Isaiah 55:6-8).
God doesn’t judge us on the amount of faith we have………….but only on a sincere and forgiving heart (Matthew 6:14-15; cf. Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-13). A heart that trusts in the Great Controller (Proverbs 3:5-6). That is where faith begins and God’s love takes over! (Gal. 5:5-6).
—Barbara Hyland, guest writer