Faith or Belief?
Yesterday, I started a book titled Fueled by Faith by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. In the first chapter, she was talking about how what most people call faith is not really faith at all; it is merely belief. One cannot have faith in a thing. It is only possible to have faith in a person.
If “without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6), it is important to know what faith is. Many times through the years, I have “prayed in faith” that God would do a certain thing and, many times, He has answered my prayer. At the same time, there are prayers God does not answer. This is where one’s faith can be shaken but, if I truly have faith, I will still “rejoice in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18), because I trust Him completely. I may be disappointed but I know He does all things well.
Jesus told the disciples to “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). He delivers that same message to us today. Don’t worry about circumstances. Don’t presume that God is going to answer your prayers exactly how you want. Scripture does say, “What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them” (Mark 11:24) but I think this is more than just naming it and claiming it. The closer we get to God, the more His will becomes our will. “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). I believe therein lies the key.
I feel like I still have so much to learn about prayer and faith but I’m thankful that I have a patient Teacher. Slowly but surely I am learning more about Him and how He desires me to walk and to live. May I never stop learning and growing.
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