Faith

“How do you know he’s going to ask me?” Understandably concerned, as any young gal would be, I sought affirmation from a good friend about the intentions of a young lad I truly hoped would ask me to an upcoming school dance.

“Well, I’m not so sure,” I said. “Besides, I look like a dork in this dress, and the dance probably won’t be that much fun anyway.”

Interrupting me with her spin on things—and doing her best to encourage my fainting heart—my girlfriend explained, “Mary, don’t worry so much. He thinks you’re cute. You just need to have a little faith.”

At this point I wanted to know where a person acquired this commodity called faith, as I had decided I was going to need to get a whole bunch of it—soon.

I would later grow up to understand that faith isn’t found in a box on a shelf. Nor is it a secret hidden deep in some cave, found only by years of aimless wandering and searching.

Faith is but a mere word, holding no power and offering no promise of its own. My girlfriend was asking me to have “faith”, but faith in what or in whom? Her confidence or a young fellow’s good intentions? When we place our trust in people, circumstances or things of this earth, we are setting ourselves up to be let down.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. —Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

Faith is not a reward for our determination to have things go a certain way. Faith is not earned by good deeds. Faith is a gift from God. Each of us has been given an equal portion. Jesus is described in Hebrews 12:2 “as the author and finisher of our faith.” God gives us faith and perfects this blessed gift as we live out the life to which He has called us. The most critical element of faith is a deep and abiding trust in our Lord’s will and in His wisdom.

The evidence of this truth is more apparent in hindsight, rather than foresight. Looking back over time, it’s easier to see how the hand of God has moved in a mighty way, saving us from our own shortsightedness or leading us through what seemed an insurmountable struggle. Time and time again we discover God was trustworthy and hard at work mending our mistakes and missteps together for good.

Let’s have faith in God and trust in His will for us … in all things.

I did attend the dance, but not with the young boy I hoped would ask me. God, I would learn, had a much better plan than anything I could have imagined. The lad and I became good friends and as adults at a high school reunion, my husband and I were given the opportunity to tell him about our faith in Christ.

Faith in God does not presume that we get what we want. However, faith in God promises to supply all that we need.

Thanks be to God!