Did you ever “believe” for something and it didn’t happen? What was wrong?
What went wrong is that we place our faith in the wrong thing. We put faith in our faith. We’ve made a “Christian” copy of the “Power of Positive Thinking.” We try to control things. We’re not God.
We make terrible gods. You shouldn’t want to control things. You don’t know the future. You don’t know the plan. You don’t know the best way. If you have goals other than God’s perfect purposes being worked out in and through you, then you are aiming at the wrong goal.
We want God’s “perfect” for ourselves and our loved ones, and hopefully for everyone! What’s our part in bringing it about? We believe. Our part is having faith. But what do we have faith in?
Did you ever wonder at Elijah’s faith that it would only rain at his word and then wonder at his lack of faith, running away in fear? What happened? Why was there faith in one circumstance and not the other?
God had told him that it wasn’t going to rain and when it was going to rain again. He had the Lord’s sure word. He could rely on His God’s faithfulness to keep His truthful word. He had no word from the Lord about Jezebel wanting to kill him. He fled instead of running to God.
We need to put our faith in what we know. We don’t know God’s plans. We don’t know how He’s going to do things. If He does more than we can ask and even imagine, then we’re never going to be able to have faith for the specific thing God is doing. We don’t know what it is! We can’t even imagine! We want that more-than-we-can-even-imagine, not the limited-view thing we want and try to “believe” for. Even if we feel sure we know what is promised us and can have faith in that, I still say, it’s a limited view of faith to put your faith in a thing to happen. Even if you are absolutely right that promise is coming and can believe it, you don’t know the steps along the way to get the fulfillment. Don’t put your faith in what you think should happen next.
So, what do we put our faith in? Faith is knowing. We can only put our faith in what we know. Knowing is different than trying to stir up faith through declarations. If you know something, you don’t need to keep trying to convince yourself it’s true!
What do we have faith in? We put our faith in God. He is steadfast, sure, unchanging. He’s a steady rock to plant your faith on. We can know He will always be good. We can know His motivation will always be love. We can know He will be faithful. We can know He will be true. We can know He will be righteous and just. We can know He will be wise. We can know He knows it all!
When the doctor said my son’s surgery couldn’t wait, I didn’t have faith for healing. I would have been faking it and trying to stir it up. I would have been trying to make his healing happen through my work of faith. (That’s working in your own strength.) But there was something I knew. The doctor said it was “impossible” for my son’s condition to improve, that it would only deteriorate. I knew it wasn’t impossible. I told God I knew it wasn’t impossible. I knew my God was able to do what the doctor called impossible. That was our faith as we prayed for healing, though we didn’t know what would happen. My faith was in what I knew to be true about my God – He is able, He is good, He is in control, etc. It wasn’t impossible. My son’s condition improved, and years later now, he’s still never had that surgery that “couldn’t wait.”
How much easier could you pray if you weren’t trying to have faith for things, but rested in prayer in true faith in the good God who does all things well?
Know Him. That’s your pursuit, knowing Him. We’ll be getting to know Him for all eternity. You won’t reach the end; the relationship will never grow stale; there will always be more to glory in when it comes to our glorious God.
Desire Him and all His “perfect” for your life. Trust Him and rest in Him with gratitude.
How is telling God that you knew your son’s condition could improve having faith in God? Aren’t we supposed to pray for God to heal people. Is it that you knew through God nothing is impossible or that was your belief. Sorry I’m a bit confused in the message. ❤️
I knew God could do it. He is able. My faith was in who He is. We certainly prayed and asked God for the healing. I’ll try to make it clearer in the post.
How do you handle not living in fear. When the sickness came about with your son that natural response for me is to panic, google and I’m so anxious I can’t breathe. I want to be biblically strong enough to trust in the Lord and for the anxiety and fear to go away no matter what event or diagnosis comes my way.
(sent an email response)
*Are you saying that the object of our faith should be in Christ verses wordly things?
*Are you suggesting that since the gift of faith was given to us by Him, then affectionately we should place this gift back on and in Him?
*Was the gift of faith placed within you tested for its genuineness during this health challenge for your son?
I’m saying all the things I said. 🙂 I do like how you stated your questions, especially affectionately giving the gift back. I personally have never thought of that time as being a test of faith genuineness. We have a miracle wall in our house. It’s not to show our faith, but the greatness and goodness of our God.
Thank you, Lee, for this very important reminder.
I used to have this perspective of having faith for something, at the time i didn’t know it was me holding unto control and playing god. In the recent times I’m learning to surrender and trust God who I know is faithful and sure. This perspective just lifts off the burden… Thank you Lee for sharing this.
Thank you for this encouraging word! God bless your sharing and edifying the Body!