Trust God
The African Impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall.
Faith is simply believing whatever God says is true. It’s the ability to trust God in spite of what we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). Faith frees us from the flimsy enclosures of life that fear allows us to be entrapped by.
Remember this vital truth: “And 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 seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith has three primary looks:
It looks to the past with confidence: “But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life” (John 20:31). You can be confident that because Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again that your sin was completely forgiven when you put your trust in Him. It was settled at the cross and confirmed by His bodily resurrection.
It looks to the present with joy: “And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). No matter what circumstance you may be facing in life, you can fix your eyes on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2), and He promises “that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:3-4). So, faith knows that God is always working on your behalf in whatever situation comes your way. Trust Him.
It looks to the future with hope: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Since God controls the future, He told us that we have “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). So, you can persevere. You can overcome. You can know the best is yet to come because He promised “we will be like Him” (1 John 3:2).
In what area of life do you need to trust Him more? He is trustworthy: “Faithful is He who calls you and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Let’s all respond like the apostles when they said to the Lord: “Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5)
Pastor Jeff