Faith for the Faithless

 

"Lord, I have faith.  Help my weak faith to be stronger!” ." Mark 9:24 What would our lives be like if we believed the way God deserves to be believed in? What would our lives be like if we trusted in Jesus the way He called His followers to trust?  What would our lives be like if we had faith that the Holy Spirit lives within us to comfort, to teach, to guide, and more…?

Nothing can separate us from God's love

No matter what, God loves us!  As followers of Christ, we can be closer to God, working to follow His will and share His love with others.

Paul the Apostle wrote in his letter to the Roman Christians, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:38-39)

God’s plan for the future of Earth and humanity might be beyond our understanding; and yet, He reveals Himself and His will to us at times.

In the Old Testament, we read the story of Creation, of God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah, of how God tried to show the children of Israel the Way to righteousness.  He declared to His people, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.’”  (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

We read in the New Testament of the Way God provided.  Today, we accept God’s promise of finding Him when we look for Him in faith and trust Him with all our hearts.

However, sometimes bad things happen don't they?

In the story from Mark 9 (which also appears in other Gospels), an anxious father brought his extremely ill son to Jesus for healing.  The Gospels say that an evil spirit, or a demon, possessed the boy, causing him to lose his voice and convulse, throwing him into the fire or well.

In front of the crowd following Him, Jesus decried the faith of the people of His time, saying, “You people of this day have no faith.  How long must I be with you?  How long must I put up with you?”  (Mark 9:19)

The father begged for help, but Jesus said, “The one who has faith can do all things.”  (Mark 9:23)

At this point, the father cried out to the Lord that he did believe, and asked Jesus to make his faith stronger.  As more people gathered around, Jesus healed the boy, rebuking the evil spirit so it could not return.

“Bad things” have happened since history was recorded, and we continue to be afflicted today:  what is upsetting you and your friends and family?  What illnesses trouble your lives?

Faith like a child

We “know” that our Lord has dominion over our problems.  But it is sometimes so hard to have faith – to really believe – that they can be resolved in a godly way!

Jesus was teaching a radical new way of thinking and of living.  It’s still an amazing concept today:  to treat people with love and respect, believing that God can work in our lives to help us deal with everything from personality conflicts to illness!

In Matthew’s account, when His Disciples questioned Jesus about why they were unable to heal the boy, “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith.  Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.’”  (Matthew 17:20)

A mountain of trouble

When our problems seem like mountains, it can be easy to lose our faith.  Jesus often had to scold His closest friends for their lack of faith – and they were watching His miracles, face-to-face, at an incredible rate!  But because we, too, can be counted as friends of Jesus, we can see His miracles, too.

When faced with a problem, we first must pray.  We turn to God, and although He knows everything about us, we are called to lay our troubles at His feet.  Describe them; tell God how you feel about each part of the issue.  Then ask Him to help.

Secondly, we must believe.  God’s Word calls us to faith, to believe, so many times.  No matter what, trust in God’s love and guidance, through each step of the resolution – whatever it might be.

Next, often, we must act.  Sometimes, God will act miraculously.  But frequently, He asks us to put our hands to the labor of the solution.  If we are sick, we might have to eat more healthfully, exercise, or take medicine.  If we have relational issues, we might have to humble ourselves before another person, compromise in a way we don’t like, or even end a relationship.  If we lack funds, we might have to work harder or longer to earn more money, budget more carefully, or even do without certain things that aren’t necessary.

Finally, no matter the outcome, we must still work to grow our faith!  Sometimes, God’s will isn’t our will.  But we have to trust our inheritance:  that God has plans for our “future and hope.”

Faith despite sorrow

When we don’t “get our way,” it’s easy to decide that God isn’t deserving of our attention.  When we experience pain and sorrow, it’s easy to forget our trust in Jesus.  When we don’t understand, it’s easy to think that the Holy Spirit isn’t “there for” us.

And when we sin like that, we need to return to the One Who loves us most.  The writer of Psalm 119 understood the need to confess before God, so faith can be restored:

“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word.
Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me Your law.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Your laws.”  (Psalm 119:28-30)

God loves us and wants the best for His children!  In Him, we place our hope, trust and faith:

“I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord.  Be strong.  Let your heart be strong.  Yes, wait for the Lord.”  (Psalm 27:13-14)