Have Faith.
Mark 11:22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God."
There are days when faith seems to flow in abundance like the constant flood of a mighty river. And then there are days when it dries up and I fall to my knees. The sting of failure, the choking fingers of self doubt, the deep tortuous ache of loss, or the wrenching cry of need; these arrows pierce my soul and my faith gushes out upon the ground like blood.
"Have faith," some well meaning friend tells me and I smile weakly and nod my head. But afterward I crawl back within the prison of my mind. There I take stock of my troubles and strain with all my might to see how there might be a way out. The tinny echo of "have faith" ringing in my ears like a taunt or worse a soulless platitude.
Certainly God is able to help me. But if it is done for us according to our faith, then how will I, one of little faith, ever get past these difficulties? "Have faith" my Lord commands. So I dig down deep and wind myself up like a child's toy in my church pew. All fired up I shoot forth into the week like a toy race car only to peter out when the walls of my Jericho hold fast. Then I feel like a failure all over again. Not only am I crushed by life, but I don't even have the character my God demands to trust Him! Is my faith a lie? No. Yet when I dig down into my "self" I find mostly sand and little substance. It is a hollow feeling.
But what if.... What if Christ is not making a demand? What if He is extending an offer? "Are you lacking Faith, my child? Here have some! You are welcome to it. And there's more where that came from. I just made it this morning along with a delicious batch of Mercy. Share it with your friends. It's hearty, warm, high in moral fiber and good for your heart. It's delicious, enjoy!" He has made for me a Faith that sustains me.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...
Well if this is an offer then there's no need to dig down deep and scrape the bottom of my own barrel. No need to muster up some pretense of faith and hope it suffices. No requirement to do some good deed or keep a stiff upper lip. All I need do is grab a plate and take a seat at the table. Dinner is served. And if I find myself hungering again I need only say, as the apostles did, "Lord, Increase my faith," Luke 17:5.
He says we are each given "a measure of faith," Romans 12:3. But I wonder if this is measure is the just that portion necessary to step onto the path. Maybe the faith for the journey itself is another thing altogether. I think perhaps the most sincere prayer of faith is the one that acknowledges the need in each of us to have God's help in the very act of trusting Him through the trials of life. Never was a more humble prayer spoken than this: "Lord I believe. Help thou my unbelief." Mark 9:24
There is also that one prickly obstacle to faith for which The Lord offers aid to overcome. Fear. To step out on the sea and run after Him is to invite the sideways glance at the storm that rages. I am not alone in this. It is not then the lack of faith but the distraction from it that causes me to sink. But that measure of faith, the initial portion, remains; and from its store I cry out, "Lord save me!" For if one has faith enough to call on His name, it is sufficient to kindle His heart. He reaches down and grabs hold of me, infusing me with Living Water, faith renewed. His words manifesting in me as a declaration of what He is bringing to pass, "Be not afraid, only believe." Mark 5:36
I cling to His breast like a frightened child, still drenched from the sea. Shuddering through tears I respond instinctively to His comfort with a new prayer, "what time I am afraid, I will trust in thee!" Psalm 56:3.
And so in these times I am not losing faith but growing deeper in it. From ashes to beauty. From that which trembles, to that which shimmers. From one who hesitates, to one who waits upon The Lord. From faith to faith. From glory to glory. Oh what a lovely journey it is!
There are days when faith seems to flow in abundance like the constant flood of a mighty river. And then there are days when it dries up and I fall to my knees. The sting of failure, the choking fingers of self doubt, the deep tortuous ache of loss, or the wrenching cry of need; these arrows pierce my soul and my faith gushes out upon the ground like blood.
"Have faith," some well meaning friend tells me and I smile weakly and nod my head. But afterward I crawl back within the prison of my mind. There I take stock of my troubles and strain with all my might to see how there might be a way out. The tinny echo of "have faith" ringing in my ears like a taunt or worse a soulless platitude.
Certainly God is able to help me. But if it is done for us according to our faith, then how will I, one of little faith, ever get past these difficulties? "Have faith" my Lord commands. So I dig down deep and wind myself up like a child's toy in my church pew. All fired up I shoot forth into the week like a toy race car only to peter out when the walls of my Jericho hold fast. Then I feel like a failure all over again. Not only am I crushed by life, but I don't even have the character my God demands to trust Him! Is my faith a lie? No. Yet when I dig down into my "self" I find mostly sand and little substance. It is a hollow feeling.
But what if.... What if Christ is not making a demand? What if He is extending an offer? "Are you lacking Faith, my child? Here have some! You are welcome to it. And there's more where that came from. I just made it this morning along with a delicious batch of Mercy. Share it with your friends. It's hearty, warm, high in moral fiber and good for your heart. It's delicious, enjoy!" He has made for me a Faith that sustains me.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...
Well if this is an offer then there's no need to dig down deep and scrape the bottom of my own barrel. No need to muster up some pretense of faith and hope it suffices. No requirement to do some good deed or keep a stiff upper lip. All I need do is grab a plate and take a seat at the table. Dinner is served. And if I find myself hungering again I need only say, as the apostles did, "Lord, Increase my faith," Luke 17:5.
He says we are each given "a measure of faith," Romans 12:3. But I wonder if this is measure is the just that portion necessary to step onto the path. Maybe the faith for the journey itself is another thing altogether. I think perhaps the most sincere prayer of faith is the one that acknowledges the need in each of us to have God's help in the very act of trusting Him through the trials of life. Never was a more humble prayer spoken than this: "Lord I believe. Help thou my unbelief." Mark 9:24
There is also that one prickly obstacle to faith for which The Lord offers aid to overcome. Fear. To step out on the sea and run after Him is to invite the sideways glance at the storm that rages. I am not alone in this. It is not then the lack of faith but the distraction from it that causes me to sink. But that measure of faith, the initial portion, remains; and from its store I cry out, "Lord save me!" For if one has faith enough to call on His name, it is sufficient to kindle His heart. He reaches down and grabs hold of me, infusing me with Living Water, faith renewed. His words manifesting in me as a declaration of what He is bringing to pass, "Be not afraid, only believe." Mark 5:36
I cling to His breast like a frightened child, still drenched from the sea. Shuddering through tears I respond instinctively to His comfort with a new prayer, "what time I am afraid, I will trust in thee!" Psalm 56:3.
And so in these times I am not losing faith but growing deeper in it. From ashes to beauty. From that which trembles, to that which shimmers. From one who hesitates, to one who waits upon The Lord. From faith to faith. From glory to glory. Oh what a lovely journey it is!
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