By faith.
Faith is defined as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” We demonstrate faith every day often without thinking about it. When we get in our car we trust that it will get us where we need to go. When we plug in our phone, we trust that it will charge. When we sit in a chair, we don’t even consider if it will hold us. But sometimes faith requires more than that.
This past weekend, Silas and I tried out a new experience - scuba diving. This was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for him. But for me? I had little to no interest. My interest was in having the experience with Silas. After much explanation and instruction, the time came to put our heads underwater for the first time. Silas put the regulator in his mouth and dove under without thought. I hesitated. My confidence and trust that I could actually breathe underwater were lacking. In theory, I should have known that people do this all the time and it obviously works. But I had to have my own faith and put it into action. This required something from me. I had to trust that the instructors knew what they were talking about, I had to trust that I could do this, and I had to trust that the regulator would provide me with the oxygen I needed. I had to trust that I would be okay. I needed to release the fear, and give in to faith.
Let’s be real here. Faith can be easy, faith can be hard, and sometimes it may even feel impossible. So what’s the difference?
When I put my faith in something and continually see the proven results, it’s not difficult. It’s second nature. When I’m not afraid, it doesn’t require much. But when I’ve never done something before, taking a leap isn’t quite so easy. When my circumstances are overwhelming and I cannot see a solution or welcome outcome, having faith may take everything I’ve got.
What about the Biblical definition of faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
The word for assurance may also be translated as substance or confidence. In other words, it’s the confidence that everything God has revealed and promised in His Word is true. Even though we can’t see it, we may have conviction or belief that what we expect in faith, will come to pass. So whatever it is that you’re struggling with right now - your job, your finances, your relationships, your future, your children, your heartache, even your faith - God can meet you in it. He wants to meet you in it. You can surrender it and trust that He will work it for your good. Paul reminds us in Philippians that God will supply our every need according to Christ Jesus. We truly can trust that and we can trust that He hears us when we come to Him.
Look and see -
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7
And one of my favorites,
“And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Don’t miss the keywords here - if, believe, and. IF you have faith, BELIEVE and, ask AND, seek AND, knock AND, IF you abide, IF we ask. The faith always comes first. You receive when you ask or believe. It requires faith to ask, seek, or knock. Abiding means to live in continual faith in Jesus, so again, abide first… AND.
The scripture from 1 John 5 jumped out on the page to me recently. Think about it - if we ask according to His will - we already have the requests we have asked. You see, God exists outside of time. God has already gone into our futures and knows in full. He has already answered every request, even if we have not yet seen the fruition in our earthly time. But, we can believe that it is ours. That’s the kind of faith I want.
So let’s break it down. To know God - to know His heart - we must know His Word. We must not only know what it says, but we must live it. And as we live in the power of His Spirit, we will ask according to His heart. You see, it’s all connected. As we come to know Him, our faith and trust grow. Ephesians 1:19 tells us that those who believe have the “immeasurable greatness of His power.” It is ours, friends. We are only limited by our faith.
You see, it’s not about what God can do. God can do anything. It’s about putting our faith and trust in Him.
What’s so amazing is as we learn to work our faith muscles, faith becomes easier. Just like scuba diving. It was challenging at first, but when I realized I could trust it - I kept going back into the water. When we’ve seen the proven results of His faithfulness, we can live without fear of our circumstances. Faith becomes second nature because we have tasted and seen that He is good.
Friends, I have a giant list of things I am trusting and believing God for. Big things. Hard things. Impossible on my own things. But here’s what I know - “with God, ALL things are possible” and “ALL things are possible for one who believes.” Matthew 19:26, Mark 9:23
What are you believing God for today?
Lord, increase our faith!
