If we could see everything that God is doing behind the scenes, it would not be faith. It is faith which we hold onto. But faith in what? Faith in faith? No. No, we hold onto faith in God, who is always faithful and can be trusted to bring into being that which He has said He would. So in spite of what we see with our eyes, we hold on to what He has said - whether it be a biblical promise or something He has said to us specifically.
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. " ~ Hebrews 11:1
Can be a bit hard and frustrating to trust God sometimes. Not that He has not proven time and time again that He can be trusted, because personally speaking here, He has more than proven it. Is just hard when what we see does not seem to add up to what He has said but then again, we really do not see that much - only a portion of physical reality: none of anyone else's internal reality and usually none of what God is doing behind the scenes.
So what are we to do when we find ourselves wondering and questioning? A few hints may be in order.
1. ALWAYS remember that with God, all things are possible, regardless of what worldly advice, experience or wisdom has to say about it (that counts people in all roles you can think of including clergy). The dead get raised, sick healed, waters parted, storms stopped and relationships restored. Nothing is too hard for God. NOTHING.
2. Remember that you really cannot see anything beyond a mere portion of the physical reality in which you live in. You cannot see everything going on in this world or with anyone else, nor can you see what is going on within the spiritual realm which is a greater reality than the one we see around us.
3. God is the God of the living. He is here, right now in this nanosecond of time we call the present. He is no longer in yesterday and we have not arrived at tomorrow. Stay here and now with Him. If He has said He will bring something about in the future, just trust Him with that but keep your eyes on Him in the moment.
4. God has not lied or broken a promise yet and He is not going to start with you. Whether that be something biblical, or something He has said to you directly. Like Abraham being told his wife would have a son (Isaac) - their physcial age said 'no' but God said 'yes' - guess who won? If God has told you something, then regardless of how things look right now, He is going to bring it to pass.
5. Pray. While there are likely to be many topics that come to mind in the moment, try praying for insight and understanding - not only into God and His word, but into all things within your life. Pray also for discernment so as to be able to see truth from lie and wolf from sheep. Finally, pray for wisdom - God's wisdom, not the world's - for all the insight and knowledge in the world is of little use if you do not know what to do with it.
So if you find yourself a bit frustrated, you are not alone but take heart - if God said He is going to do something, then He is going to do it. After all, He really is the only One who can say that with certainty.
To all who read these words (and even those who do not), I pray that the Lord, who gives generously to all without favoritism, fills you with greater insight, discernment and understanding into not only Himself, but all areas of your life. And that He grants you an overflowing measure of His wisdom, leads you on straight paths and fills every portion of your heart and mind with His truth.
*I should mention this as well. We are talking about things which God has said, in whatever form, He would do. We are not talking about what you want Him to do - wishful thinking is a whole other story. In all things, pray and seek His will first and foremost. Remember, even Christ prayed "not my will but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42) and He was/is God incarnate.*
(Portions of this are taken from some of my status updates from my FaceBook page)
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