Faiths Process
We’ve all heard a message on faith somewhere along our Christian journey. The Bible defines faith as “The substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not yet seen.” Hebrews 11:1. So maybe it’s just me but from that scripture I think we have assumed that our faith is to be used to believe for the things that we hope for so that they come into existence. I think we’ve had the idea it’s all about us and what we want…NOT!
I’m not saying that is totally a wrong approach to getting our needs and prayers answered but…is it just to believe for things, is that all that our faith is for or does? The definition of faith is “the complete trust or confidence in someone or something, a set of religious doctrine, confident or unquestioning belief in the truth, value or trustworthiness of someone.”
Our faith, which God measured out to each believer at conversion, is far more than a means to an end; it’s more than a system to get what we want or need. It’s not just about getting but about growing. Our faith grows through the waiting while we believe for God’s promise to show up in real life. Because if you’ve noticed like I have, our stuff doesn’t show up the next day after we pray or order it…God is not Amazon.
Our faith must be tested and grown. We may start out believing for our needs to be met but when delay happens, that is when our faith has to learn to be stretched. You could say our faith needs to go to the gym to get stronger! Unfortunately that doesn’t mean we don’t have to go to the gym just because our faith is there!
Here are three things our faith needs to do to be mature:
1. Flexible. When we pray for something and it doesn’t show up in our timing we have to learn to be patient. God is not on our schedule have you noticed? Sometimes I think he isn’t even in the same time zone or continent I am! Waiting teaches us to trust which is defined as a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone. So I learn in the wait where my real faith lies, in God or not. Only God knows what our promise needs. It often requires a process and that process is almost always uncomfortable! Ugh…but it will come if you don’t quit.
2. Trust. God wants to SEE if you trust him or not. He actually knows but he needs you to know where your real trust lies. Does my faith rest in my plan of how it should happen or in God to do what only he can do? My faith holds me when what I want isn’t showing up. Do I cave or continue to stand? Waiting is designed to grow my faith.
3. Stretch. When Lazarus was sick his sisters knew Jesus could heal him. But Jesus was late (or was he?) and Lazarus died. His sister’s plan was for Jesus to show up and heal him but Jesus plan was to resurrect him. Sometimes we have a plan in our own minds about HOW God should do what we need. It is rarely how he chooses to do it. We hate the waiting but God uses the waiting. It’s his plan to use the wait to grow our faith and trust in him. He uses the process to teach us patience.
The word says in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. LET perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I want to get to the place where I lack nothing don’t you? Learn to wait…
I must be flexible, trust and be stretched if I am to grow in my faith in God, his ability and his faithfulness. God’s answers are based on timing. Nothing that is born out of time is healthy or can survive. We must learn to trust his timing so that when the answer comes we are fully developed and capable of handling our blessing.
I’m in the waiting and maybe many of you are too…I want to pray for you!
Father, we know that you are a good Father, a faithful friend and only want what is best for us. We have prayed and presented our needs to you and we are now waiting for our answers. In this in-between time help us by your Spirit to learn everything that we need to learn while we wait.
Show us the areas in our lives that need work and give us the grace to let you work on them. Help us to take up our crosses and follow you. Give us the strength to overcome anything that is trying to overcome us.
We thank you that you are in control and that we don’t have to be. Show us how to trust you in greater ways. Thank you for this opportunity to grow more Christ like and to please you with our attitudes and our lives.