Faith isn’t believing God can, but knowing He will

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. -Mark 11:24

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. -‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭13-14‬ (NKJV)

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. -Psalm 5:3

We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth. -Andrew Murray

Faith isn’t believing God can, but knowing He will. -Ben Stein

Everybody knows of that famous statement Jesus made in Mark. But how many believe it? Can you see in that verse that Jesus actually tells us to believe unwaveringly?

I don’t know about you, but when I prayed to the Lord and asked, knowing I should believe that what I prayed for would be received, I really tried, but sometimes my mind would have a seed of doubt. What if what I’m asking isn’t really in God’s will? Do I have enough faith? Even the size of a mustard seed?

Then it hit me: stop trying and striving to believe. Just believe. In other words, let go and believe in the same way you believe that, some 2000 years ago—when you were not present to witness it—the Son of God came to this earth, was born of a virgin, and died on the cross for you, redeeming and justifying you.

The context for the first verse comes after Jesus curses a fig tree so it withers with a word and overturns money changing tables in the temple:

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” -Mark 11:23-25

I can testify that God makes ways where there is no way in sight, as far as our eyes and minds can see. What does it mean to walk by faith, and not by sight? It means that we know that God hears the cries of His children. We know that prayer channels His power down into our lives. And we know His Word tells us what happens when we believe in what we pray for. If we don’t live by these things, and don’t walk by faith, we are no different than the unseeing unbelievers all around us.

Note: I am not saying that if you pray for a gazillion dollars and differently colored luxury cars and yachts for each day of the week, that you will get it just because you ask for them in Jesus’ name, believing you will receive them. No. God supplies all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). We are here to serve and glorify God, and to make Him known to the corners of the earth. Does what you pray for align with our mission?

If you let go and truly believe in the underpinnings of it all, that God is almighty as creator of heaven and earth, and that nothing is impossible to Him, then you know that what you pray for is a done deal. Worrying or wondering if it will be done, after you just prayed to the Lord in believing prayer, is an affront to His limitless power. (Remember that we are not to be anxious about anything, but in everything, with thanksgiving, we are to present our requests to God?) And when you know that what you prayed for is a done deal, you can return to the giving the Lord your all in the moment, and not be distracted by what could be.

So, when God’s Word says that you pray for and believe in what you pray for to be done, do just that. Live by it.