11/10/2022
As men and women we tend to look at our problems and seek to resolve them ourselves, but as Christians we are meant to look at our problems, especially those that we believe are insurmountable, and ask God to take them. The worldly see the problems we face, and they are quick to rob God of the glory when He works for us, and they can explain away our rescue, but when God does the impossible, He becomes undeniably real to those who were once doubters. So shouldn’t we praise Him in our darkest and most violent storms because it is here that the Lord can use our rescue as undeniable evidence to those who do not believe? It is here that our faith is strengthened, and our hope made real… even to us.
“In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.””
Romans 4:18 ESV
It requires very little faith to trust in God to solve the easy problems, or to accomplish those things that can be readily done by us, but when we face the great trials, and impossible hardships, it takes amazing faithfulness, and hope upon hope to believe. In such times, even we as God’s children, and joint heirs with Jesus, we can find ourselves wondering if our Father has heard us, or He is going to rescue us. Sometimes we see the impossible for us, and wonder if we have asked for too much. When our faith is shaking, we too need encouragement…
“And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:47-48 ESV
Mary and Martha looked for a way to explain why their brother Lazarus was allowed to die, and then used the second coming of Jesus to explain why He would say that He could raise a rotting corpse from the dead. They saw what naturally was impossible, and thought that it was too great… their faith, and hope, was being defined by the limitations of the world.
“Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”
John 11:17, 20-21, 23-25 ESV
Are we like Martha when we face our problems and they seem to be too great? Do we wait on the Lord for a while, and when we finally reach a point where we begin to think He is not going to show up, or do what we have asked, do we make excuses for Him? Well that my friends is the moment when amazing, and undeniable miracles occur. That moment when our hope begins to fade, and we think faith needs our help; this is when God demonstrates His true power, and our greatest faith, to all those who have doubted. Sometimes in our lifetimes, but at other times after we have died. Think of all those who prophesied of the coming Christ, but died before He arrived. We look at those prophets today, and see the realization of the miracle of our redemption. Quite often we don’t know who the glory contained in our faith is meant to be witnessed by. A good example is in the book of Daniel when Jeremiah’s prophesy was finally understood…
“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.”
Daniel 9:1-2 ESV
So what is the limitation that we set upon our hope, and faith? When do we begin to make excuses to the world for God’s answers we believe aren’t coming? Let’s think on this today, and pray for our hope and faith to be bolstered. When we are waiting for a miracle, let’s trust that the glory of God is yet to come in it. Are we able to hope, believe, and trust like this?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for every hardship we place in your hands, and for every answered prayer, but especially for those that seem impossible, and for which the world can find no explanation. Thank you for the most difficult and painful moments in our lives because these are the times when unbelievers try to justify their unbelief, and deny you your glory. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who hears our prayers, and glorifies yourself in them. Praised be your name in the daily blessings you bestow upon us, and in the life defining moments when you give us miracles, and our faith exceeds the world’s understanding. Merciful are you Lord, for even in our most intense pain and suffering you hold us from the brink of disbelief. Wash us in the blood of Christ, and as we are called worthy in judgement, and as we glow with the light of your Son Jesus, let the glory of that moment be yours forevermore. Praised be your name for every promise that is made true, and every Word that needs no explanation, or excuse, from us. You are omnipotent, and your power exceeds our ability to question, for all things are yours, and have been created by you.
Rich Forbes