“Faith does not come from ignorance. Faith is based on what we know. Before we trust others with something precious to us, we first try to find out if they are trustworthy. … Allow God to convince you of his ability to meet every need you will ever face.” – Henry & Richard Blackaby, Experiencing God Day by Day
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Practically speaking, faith is based on what we know. I know that when I press keys on my laptop keyboard, typed letters/characters will appear on my screen. We know that when we sit in a chair, it will hold us. We don’t make a chair prove its trustworthiness before we sit down. We don’t pray over the chair, ask God to give us a sign if we should sit in the chair, or ask God for clarity if it’s the right chair. We just sit down.
We trust in chairs and keyboards with little to no effort because we know these things to be trustworthy based on experience. However, trusting others with something precious to us is not as easy. Mark 9: 14-29 tells the story of a father who brings his demon-possessed son to the disciples to cast out the demon, but they are unable to do so. After the unsuccessful exorcism, the father reaches a point of desperation and cries out to Jesus in the crowd. He has a little talk with Jesus and Jesus heals the son. The father’s experience with Jesus turned his belief into truth. Likewise, we believe God based on His Word, but we know God based on our experiences with Him.
Many of us are like the father, especially in these COVID-19 pandemic times. Things and people we trusted prior are no longer coming through for us. Many of your security nets have been pulled right from under you. Nothing seems secure anymore, not our jobs, families, finances, health, the economy… nothing. However, Jesus is always secure, and He wants to be your security blanket.
One of the most powerful lines from Blackaby’s devotional states: “Go to [God] and allow [God] to convince you of his ability to meet every need you will ever face.” Think about that statement and let it sink in. Those who are close to me know that I use dating as an analogy for almost everything. For my single people out there, imagine if that man or woman, who is just your type, approaches you and tells you to allow her/him to convince you that he/she can meet EVERY need you will EVER face. On top of that, imagine if that the person has a long history of following through on EVERY word and fulfilling EVERY promise. Would you give them a chance? God wants the opportunity to show you that He is the “I Am who I Am,” meaning He is everything you need.
According to the Oxford dictionary, the word “convince” means “to cause (someone) to believe firmly in the truth of something.” God is not like man that he should lie (Numbers 23:19), and His words never return to Him void but they fulfill the purpose that they are sent (Isaiah 55:11). God wants you to go to Him and allow Him to cause you to believe firmly in His ability to meet EVERY need you will EVER face.
Now, this does require work on your part. First, you have to go to God, remain in consistent communication with Him (albeit through prayer, reading the word, bible studies, attending services, etc.), and you obey when He gives you instructions. Next, you have to allow God the opportunity to convince you that he can meet every need you will ever face. According to the Oxford Dictionary, “allow” means: (1) give (someone) permission to do something; and (2) give the necessary time or opportunity for. In other words, despite the disappointment, hurt, pain, betrayal, rejection, or abandonment you may have experienced, give God the permission, time, and opportunity for Him to show you that He can meet every need you will ever face.
The key to faith is knowing that God can meet your every need, while understanding that God’s ability to meet every need does not create a guarantee that He will meet your needs how you want Him to and when you want Him to. Will you still believe God is a provider if your home is foreclosed? Will you still trust in God’s healing power if that family member is not healed? During law school, my only maternal aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, after being in remission for years. I prayed earnestly that God would heal her. I knew God was a healer because He is Jehovah-Rapha (meaning “God who heals”), and he’s healed before. Since God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore (Hebrews 13:8), that means He has the power to heal again. Despite my prayers, my Aunt passed away. Did I struggle with God’s decision not to heal my aunt? Yes, I did. Did my aunt’s death make God any less of a healer? No it didn’t. God’s character is based on His Word. My circumstances did not change God’s character. He was still a healer.
Remember that God created heaven and earth and nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17). He will be with you in your highest moment, and when you walk through your darkest valleys. Allow God the opportunity to convince you that He got you.
May God keep you and bless you. Amen!
Chan
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