When there is no reason to believe

Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” -Luke 8:50 (NIV)

And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” -Mark 9:23 (NIV)

Faith is easy when the sun is shining, and life is going easy on you. But how’s your faith when you’ve been in the desert for days, months, or years…and the only water that’s coming is from another wave of storms? How’s your faith when there seems to be no change for the better on the horizon?

Think of the Israelites, who marched through the desert for 40 years. Think of Noah, who constructed an ark for decades with not a single sign in the sky of the earth being flooded or destroyed. Think of Joshua, who commanded his men to circle an impenetrable city, trusting it would somehow fall.

Can you imagine the doubt and ridicule heaped on them? Can you imagine the self-doubt that could’ve plagued them? How would you fare if you were among them?

How strong is your faith when there is no change in the skies again? How about when concerned loved ones are telling you that you need to throw in the towel and face reality? (And can you blame them?)

Your faith is tested the moment you choose to believe. From the very second you choose faith in a savior you’ve never seen, the spiritual warfare is on. Satan is pulling out all his stops, and reaching deep in his bag of tricks, to trip you up…to cause you to doubt…to cause you to wonder if your senses and reasoning are a better compass than your faith.

From the excellent Oswald Chambers comes this excerpt:

Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. What is challenging your faith right now? The test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it.

I highly recommend you read the rest of the devotional »

All things are possible to him who believes. Somehow, to our doubting minds, is nothing to the Lord. To the Lord, anything in His will will be done.

Just remember: We believe when there is no reason to believe, just as our forefathers did. We surrender our dreams and our very lives…and God takes them and fulfills them manyfold according to His will and timing. His love is constant, and He is steadfast. And all He asks us so many times in His Word, and as our forefathers prove over and over: Just believe. May your testimony of faith against impossible odds be added to the tally of successes glorifying God!