Monday, May 11, 2009

An Amazing Faith

“I learned that faith isn’t tested by how often God answers prayers with a yes but by my willingness to continue serving Him and thanking Him even when I don’t have a clue as to what He is doing.”…..Gary House

 

It is not always easy to trust God.  I like to think I’ve got everything under control and know exactly where I am going.  I like all my plans and activities to be very organized and well thought out.  I like it when I know all the facts, and get every questioned answered.

Unfortunately, what I like and how life really goes are two worlds apart.

Wouldn't it be so much easier if we did not have to trust God so blindly? If God would simply tell us in advance about all the good that would come out of every difficult situation?  If we could know that in the end, all of our trials would be turned to gold?  Surely then our walk of faith would look so much different, and our testimonies would bring so much glory to God. Right?

Yet in reality, hasn’t God actually told us these very things? In Romans 8:28 we read,

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.

Many of us are familiar with this verse, and can probably quote it verbatim, but do we really believe what it says?

The test is not what we are facing, but rather how we face the test. In Hebrews 11:6 we read,

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

The Bible is full of the testimonies of great men and women who in the midst of adversity did not abandon their confidence in the living God. These stories and their lives are pictures for all us to understand what true faith really looks like.

Many of the great hero’s of faith even died still believing, yet without receiving the things God had promised to them!

This is what true faith in God really is about. It is a faith that never waivers, and I believe it is exactly what our quote suggests today.

One of my favorite passages is found in the book of Habakkuk chapter 3:17.  It is also one of the greatest proclamations of faith ever written. 

Worshippping

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior
.

The story of Habakkuk begins with a “why”, but ends with a “Yes and Amen”. What always stands out the most to me in verse 18 is the word, “YET”.  It does not say,

"When things get better, then I will celebrate”, or “After I see the answer to my prayers, then I will be joyful”.

No, Habakkuk says, “No matter what may come, still I will rejoice and be joyful in my God”. Even when we are not sure how things will ultimately turn out, will God still hear our songs of praise?

I want my life to be a proclamation that says Jesus is sufficient and always more then enough!  I want to be able to give thanks in ALL THINGS, which really is our statement of faith, and brings honor to His name.

Our simple prayer only needs to be…

“Lord teach me to trust you....”

IOW Please join us today as my precious friend Loni hosts In Other Words at The Writing Canvas

115 comments:

Sheryl said...

what a wonderful post! one of my favorite verses. it was the first one i put to memory for 2009. i loved the "yet" in the middle of it also. choosing to be joyful and praise Him in the midst of it all.

you are such a joy!! i appreciate you so much.

Denise said...

Such a lovely post dear.

Anonymous said...

For a second I thought it said Hebrews 11 instead of May 11. That chapter is full of inspiration!
Praying right now!
Psalms 40:11-13 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
Prayer BearsMy email address

Miriam Pauline said...

Beautiful post. So true that the real test is how we face it. That passage in Habakkuk is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing.

Joan said...

A great post to start the day. In good times and bad, God always wants what is best for me. It took a lot of years to get to that point. I thank God that He loved me enough to get me there.

Blessings

luvmy4sons said...

Oh to walk by faith and not by sight. It isn't faith if it is all spelled out for us I guess! Often, I so want my sons to trust me...that I know...that though they don't understand I have greater wisdom and I know that which they do not. Just trust me! Oh that I walk by faith trusting the Lord too! What joy lies there within! Blessings to you sister. I too love that verse from Habukuk!

Debbie Petras said...

At times, I have wished that the Lord would lay out His plans for my life so I could have a blue print and know what would happen. But in reality, I'm really glad in my heart that He doesn't. If I knew in advance about some of the things that would occur in my life, I would probably run away.

I think it's like the Israelites in the desert. They had to believe and trust by faith that God would provide for them. Each day they gathered up enough manna for that day. I'm sure there was one person who would question whether there would be enough the next day. But that's where faith comes in.

So, I will trust Him. After all, He is God and He is All Sufficient. His ways are so much higher than mine.

This was a wonderful take on this quote, Susan. I'm so glad I stopped by to visit you. :)

Laurie Ann said...

Susan, my heart is shouting, "Amen!"

Beautiful post and I love your faith in the Lord. It's just precious and makes you all the more beautiful.

Karen said...

That was great. It was full of a lot of truths we neeed to remember especially the one about its not what we are facing but how we are facing it that matters. Thanks for sharing

Pilar said...

Love your post, but that first phrase really wow me. Thanks for sharing!

Patricia said...

Susan, I love it!! I was reading Habakkuk as preparation for today's IOW too!I loved this verse in chapter 2: For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, WAIT for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.

Everything God does is on His time table not ours!! Habakkuk goes on to write in 2:4 - But the righteous will live by [her] faith.

I want Him to consider me righteous! I pray I can wait as long as He wants me to!

Tracy said...

Wow, what a powerful verse! I've somehow missed that one before today. Might just have to make that my next one for Scripture Memory Challenge. I want a faith like that, as well!

Your life is such a beautiful example to us all. Glad to have the privilege of knowing you.

Blessings, sweet one.
Tracy

P.S. Thanks for joining in on my giveaway! ; )

Rachelle said...

Wow, thank you so much for your comment and willingness to help! I have actually got enough people donating note cards, but we are still in need of some magnets for the magnet boards we are including in the survivor gift bags. If that is something you could help with, that would be awesome! But if not, that is fine too!:) Thanks again! Please contact me via email if you have any other questions:)
Rachelle

Rachelle said...

I guess my email address would be helpful:) sorry!
rachellelaree@msn.com
Thanks again! This means so much to me and the others involved in RFL

Carolyn said...

Susan~thanks for sharing your post today. A true dose of reality and truth ending in Habakkuk! Love it!
Blessings to your day!

Kathryn @ Expectant Hearts said...

Beautiful take on this! Thank you for sharing.

LisaShaw said...

I read this twice because it encouraged me so much dear sister. Brought me into a moment of prayer about my own faith walk.

I love you much.

Susannah said...

YET...what an important word from the Habbakuk passage! Yet (when everything appears to have gone wrong), I will trust in the Lord. I need to feed on passages like this daily, don't you? Thanks for such a wonderful word of encouragement Susan. He truly is faithful and worthy of our trust. :~D

Anonymous said...

Great...and this reminds me of the scripture where Jesus talks about the ones who will believe, even though they do not see. Jason and I talked about how awesome it would have been to walk with Jesus, literally, while He was on the Earth. But...on the other hand...how much more our faith must please Him, since we believe, although we do not see.

Okay...sorry, I did my own post. =)

Love ya, Kristin

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