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I Do Believe


          “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”            Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24) 

           And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6) 

          Prayer is all about so many things, and one of the big things that prayer is all about is faith. God can do all things that are not self-contradictory.[1]  God could have done everything everyone has ever asked Him to. He is wise enough to choose not to. For me, this is the issue of faith. Oh, I believe that God could have given me that job, or that husband, or that miracle, or that victory…. It was within His godly capacity. He didn’t give them to me, or at the very least, He didn’t give them to me in a way that I recognized them or approved. Life would have been so much easier if He had. I don’t think life would be better, just easier. Perhaps it would be clearer to say that He could have made life easier, but I don’t think I would be the better for it.
          But that doesn’t help. I know God can. I don’t ask because I’m sure God won’t. It’s not that God won’t because He’s mean. He won’t because He’s God and I am not. He won’t because He’s wise and loving. Of course, this isn’t universally true in my life. I do ask for wisdom, direction, and attitude because I know He does provide those to me (even me.) So, does this mean that I have faith, or that I don’t have faith? Is this what Jesus scolded the disciples for when He told them they had only little faith? I certainly don’t seem to have as much faith as they did.
          Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego come to mind. They told the king that whether God saved them or not, they would not worship as the king commanded. This is another sort of faith. Whether or not they got what they wanted – even if they had to die – they would not deny God. There have been times when I have told God that I’d like to walk away, but there’s nowhere else to go. There’s nowhere else I even want to go. Irritation passes, but He’s still God and if it’s a choice between God and _______, I know what the best, right choice is. I don’t always make that best, right choice, but I know that not doing so is not only not good for me, but that it shows my failure, not His.
          Father, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief! Help me grow my faith, and to see more and more as You see so that I ask more and more for that which You can give.


[1] He can’t make Himself not exist, or create a rock so big he can’t move it.

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