Through Faith Alone...

Verse For The Day:
1 Cor. 5:7 -for we walk by faith, not by sight-

Through faith alone...
It's so easy to say. Not quite as easy to live. I admit that there are times when I think to myself "Lord, I think this is what Your trying to tell me. But, How can I be sure."

We live in a time when we expect results (from work, from prayer, from whatever) and we want it when? Well, yes of course, now. Have you ever had a time when you needed something, let's say a job?
So, you submit an application, have an interview and then sit by the phone waiting for that phone call saying your hired. You may even sit by the phone praying, "Please God let me get this job, I need this job, this is the perfect job for me. If I can just get this job I will be set. Everything else will fall into place because this job is going to pay my bills and give medical and dental and a paid vacation."
Now, alot of things can happen here. You might not get that phone call and when you finally decide that, maybe they just lost your number, you call them. Only to find out that they hired someone else. Now what kind of mood are you in??
Do you say "that's okay God, You know what's best for me and I will just have to keep looking until You point me to the job/career that I belong in."
Or do you get angry? Angry at who? The place you applied to? It's easy to tell ourselves that the people at that particular job you applied for were just, well Jerks. Obviously they don't know what they are missing.
Do you get angry at God? "You know Lord it was just this one thing, my whole life could have been changed if I had just gotten this job."
Do you get angry with yourself? You may think angry at myself for what? I went out, applied for the job, I prayed about it and then I waited for God to answer my prayers.

I believe that sometimes we think that having faith means we don't have to be pro-active or responsible. A responsible person might have gone out putting applications in all over town. Having prayed about it, knowing that God will answer that prayer. You just might be suprised at where He puts you.

See the faith part is, He knows what's best for you. No matter how often we try to pretend that we are in control and try to take control away from Him, He is faithful. God doesn't answer our prayers in our time but His. And sometimes much to our dismay the answer is No or Not Now. A situation may seem like the perfect one for you. No matter what angle you look at it from, it just seems to be where you ought to be. And it may be the right place for you some day. But, God knows if you are ready to be in that place right now.

Now obviously, this is just an example. But, I hope that this will maybe challenge you to think about true faith. I do believe that there are times when we are to step out on a limb in faith. But, we also need to remember to give God control. We sometimes think that we have given Him control only to realize that we are in a tug-a-war. I will also state right here, right now that I believe that God gave us brilliant minds. And He expects us to use them. Therefore, I believe that there are situations such as when a child is sick, that they need to be taken to a doctor, not just prayed for. God would not have given man the ability to become an educated physician unless He thought we might need them. My feelings are that angels come in all shapes and sizes.

I'd like to tell you a little story about someone who thought that if only. How often do you say if only? If only I could win this sweepstakes, if only I could win this lottery, if only I could come into this windfall, all of life would be perfect.
I could pay off all of my bills. I could pay off all of my families bills. I could buy everyone I know a new car. I could buy a new house for each member of my family. I could make a huge donation to the church. I could feed an entire village in Africa. If only.
Well, this person was struggling through some tough financial times and so, if only was very important. This person found theirself praying "Lord, if Only". Well, there came a day, just a day. Not anything special just a day like any other. But, In this persons devotions for the day, the subject was Faith. WOW! Faith. Through out the day this person would find their thoughts going back to Faith and If Only. Then driving down the road alone, tears came to this persons eyes. Looking out the windshield at the beauty that surrounded this city, the Holy Spirit spoke. No, there was no thunder cracking or visions or audible words. But, directly into this persons heart. "You don't need it. You have an amazing family, wonderful friends, a beautiful home and a God that loves you so much that He would let His own Child suffer for your sins. If you just have faith, everything will be alright."
It was then that this person prayed "Lord, You are so awesome and wise beyond comprehension. You know me, inside and out. You know that if I were to come into this money that I would most likely not use it wisely. No matter how much I promised I would. You know Lord, that I need You to be in control. I need to grow and show You that I can be a good steward. Unlike in my past. You know what is best, and I have faith that You will help my family to get through this time. No matter how tight things may get. No matter how desperate things may seem. I know God that You are faithful and that You can use this time to help me grow. To grow into a more godly person, a person who lives by faith and not by sight.

Going all the way back to the beginning. We don't always know exactly what the Lord is trying to tell us. We don't always know why He allows things to happen the way that they do. But, if we have faith, we can be sure that He will take control of the situation in whatever way is necessary and use it for the Glory of God.
I am trying to count all things as a learning experience. I don't always know where it will lead me but I have faith.