I feel like God’s been showing me our faith is not based on being unwavering in the ways that we typically think of – if it were, we would be in big trouble! God intimately knows our fickle hearts. I sensed Him reminding me of Abraham – Romans 4:18-22 AMP
18 [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be.
19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah’s [deadened] womb.
20 No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God,
21 Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.
22 That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).
But here’s the thing about Abraham… Ishmael.
Genesis 16:2, “And Sarai said to Abram, See here, the Lord has restrained me from bearing [children]. I am asking you to have intercourse with my maid; it may be that I can obtain children by her. And Abram listened to and heeded what Sarai said.”
This word “heeded” is the Hebrew word shama, and it implies a certain amount of agreement. On some level, Abraham agreed Sarah. He did after all follow through and Ishmael was born… yet his faith was “credited to him as righteousness.”
I think God looks at our heart – like with everything else. And though we may have moments where we struggle with our thoughts and may even act on those thoughts – He knows are hearts and whether our hearts are in agreement with His and standing in faith. Make no mistake – I’m not saying it’s ok to go do whatever – I’m just saying that in His mercy He extends grace. Grace because I think He understands how much He stretches us sometimes.
For me in our present situation I definitely struggle sometimes with whether or not we’ve heard Him correctly – yet does that mean I am in doubt and lack faith? No. I don’t think so – because we have walked fully aware into what He’s asked us to – fully understanding the cost if we’re wrong, yet we trust Him and step in faith. Understanding we look foolish to the world, but knowing Moses looked foolish as he stood at the Red Sea before it parted and Joshua may have wondered as the priests stood holding the ark as miles of river passed before the Jordan dried in front of them and they were able to cross. Sometimes you have to step out – not fearing looking foolish, pushing past your lack of understanding – and then simply stand.
As for us, we have no back up plan, we’re waiting on Him. This reminds me of a point I noted in Substance of Faith, “Finally, part of faith is ‘diligently seeking Him.’ That means not giving up when we don’t understand in our natural minds how He is going to come through. We don’t have to understand… we have to trust!”
Since you like comments, here’s one! Praise God for His mercy and grace. Where would we be without those things? Thank you for posting this blog and reminding us that He does, indeed, look at our hearts (ultimately) and not so much our foolish (sometimes) actions. Why do I do the things I don’t want to do, and don’t do those things that I want to?!?! It truly is an age-old question. I am a work in progress and will be until I see Him face to face! Thanks for your wisdom and honesty!
David was the same: “one after God’s own heart”…and then “Bathsheba” happens…and again we see God’s grace. It’s beautiful.
However, it’s bigger than that to me. How can we EVER be wrong when we are “obeying”, “trusting”, “waiting”, “hoping”, “expecting”? We’re wrong when we follow our own desires, unsanctified by God, (like I did when I kept working last year while everyone could see how foolish I was being) but God’s grace is like a massive hand that comes and scoops us up and places us right back to where He intended for us to be when we return our gaze on Him.
And be encouraged: stepping out in faith IS a “foolish” thing…but only to those who have no clue what God is doing in YOUR life and have placed their “own” opinion of what is “right” for you! Yikes! Was that mean? I didn’t mean to be mean, but I did mean what I said.
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I’m glad you reposted this. This is a good reminder for me 🙂
Meghan, I want to thank you for this word. It is a very good reminder that we all need once and awhile. I have been struggling lately with things, but I am putting all of my trust in God, he has me covered and he knows my heart. I struggle with speaking up in front of people, afried of saying the wrong thing and looking stupid. I am working on this with God and I am getting better. I am always telling myself that “God knows my heart”. Thank you again for sharing, I needed this today and everyday. Tami
FAITH….It is how I keep going everyday through all of the confussion going on right now. My DH has been w/o a job for the past year and I am in a job that I have been wanting to leave for the past 10 years (tho I am VERY THANKFUL for it, esp with all of the chronic unemployment going on in this country). In all of this, we also need to move back to where my parents are at (my small hometown), to live in a small rental house (rent free, which is a blessing there, plus being close to family). Also, I will be needing to help out my grandparents with things since they have been going through many health challenges within this past year. I have also been having a few health issues that I have been trying to deal with as well as dealing our cat’s health concerns too….nothing major but just adds to the worry. Also finding a new church home is added into this mix.
I know this is all for the best, but I am loosing it at sometimes because of forgeting on how to deal with things, by letting go and letting God deal with them. Trusting comes very hard for me. I know how the Lord has helped me in the past, but it is still hard. My journal has been a help with this process – to help renew my mind to what Jesus wants me to be.
We ALL have crazy and unbearable things going on in our lives…it only makes us stronger.
I am so glad that I found this site because I sense a lot of joy and healing here, which I am in need of greatly.
Thank you Meghan and blessings to you and all that you do 🙂
Good word Meghan. Our pastor has been doing a whole series on faith this summer. It has been awesome. Currently standing in the water waiting for the sea to part but knowing God said that it would. “He who called us is faithful who also will do it.” 1 Thess 5:24
@Donelda – God has SO many of us waiting for the sea to part… and it’s taking a LOT longer than *we* thought it would 🙂 It reminds me of James 1:3 (http://meghanw.com/2009/12/21/the-testing-of-our-faith/)… Oh Lord, thank You for opportunities to grow our faith!
@Amy, so glad to be a blessing to you! I understand where you are on so many levels…. we’re now at 28 months with neither of us being employed (outside the home – God’s definitely increasing the Dyed4you ministry but it’s still about 1/10 what I made in corporate America). This is a season God’s called us to and He has provided faithfully though not always in the way or timing WE would have picked! But He’s teaching us to walk completely by faith and it is good 🙂
If you haven’t read it yet, the testimony of what God did in our marriage may be an encouragement to you – http://meghanwilliams.org/2005/04/05/renewed-marriage-overview/
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