IF We Have Faith
I wonder how many Christians read the above verses, recognizing how truly awesome they are, without understanding how significant the word “if” is, especially in the context of our faith. The Lord had to deal with me some time ago about the word “if”, and challenged me concerning the difference between what I profess to believe and how it gets walked out in the reality of my life. For most of us, there’s an undeniable disconnect between the words of faith we speak and how we live our lives, especially when it comes to how we deal with the inevitable problems and challenges we have to face.
Jesus was probably talking about literally moving mountains, but there’s no doubt He meant for us to apply it figuratively too, and anyone dealing with a troubled marriage or divorce knows all about figurative mountains! But do we have the faith to speak to them and move them, and if we don’t, how do we get it? The answer to that is found in Romans 10:17, which says Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. That means the only way to have the faith needed to move the mountains we face when standing for marriage restoration is to seriously and diligently study the Bible, and there is a direct connection between the level of faith we walk out in our lives and the amount of time we spend reading and studying God’s word. It’s just not possible to walk with the faith and endurance, not to mention the grace and unconditional love, necessary to get us through this very difficult time in our lives, and through to the victorious restoration of our marriages, without spending quality time studying the word of God.
Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) leaves little doubt of what God expects from us in terms of walking and living by faith, because it says What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. Then 2 Corinthians 5:7 says that we live by faith, and not by sight, and once we attain that level of faith, NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can shake it, or the confidence we have that the Lord will bring what we’re praying for into being. And the only way to get that kind of faith is to continually study God’s word so we know and believe His promises.
While it is natural to believe and react to the things we see and hear, or what the world tells us is truth, the faith needed to move the mountains coming against us and the sanctity of our marriages requires us to act in the supernatural grace and power of God. Then when we inevitably catch ourselves responding to the things we see and hear that tend to convince us of something other than the promises we have in God’s word, we have to ask ourselves whether or not we REALLY believe the word of God, and IF we do, how does our response line up with what we say we believe? I just use “If!” to remind me that if I believe even half of what I say I believe, I have to live my life very differently than what comes naturally through my flesh. That helps me put things in the right perspective, based on what I know God tells me and the promises and confidence I have in Him through what His word teaches. Then I can tell myself “that doesn’t matter,” no matter how impossible or unlikely the circumstances may appear.
If this is an area you find yourself continually struggling with, you probably need to be spending a lot more time studying the Bible, and listening to more praise and worship music, and more preachers and teachers on the radio and television, and keep praying for the Lord to give you a greater measure of faith. Also, make sure you are not diluting the word of God in your life by filling your ears and eyes with the trash of this world by watching secular television or by associating with people who don’t support you or agree with the stand you’ve taken for the restoration of your marriage.
Colossians 4:2 tells us to devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Devoting ourselves to prayer means continually praying no matter how impossible or hopeless the situation looks and to keep praying no matter how long it takes. Then we need to be watching for evidence that God is answering our prayers by looking at the things going on around us that confirm His hand at work in our situation, and we WILL find the evidence when we really start looking for it and expecting it. In addition, we are to give the Lord thanks for what we see Him doing on our behalf, even before we see or understand what He is doing, because there are so many times when He is working in ways that we can’t possibly know, so we have to expect and believe that, even when it’s not visible in the natural realm.
So when everything else around you threatens to destroy or weaken your faith by convincing you that the world is spinning out of control, and that the restoration of your marriage is impossible or hopeless, just think “If!”, and remember Psalm 46:10, which says “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” When we consider the awesome power and might of our Almighty God, and how much He loves us and that He is on our side, what else do we really need to know? Romans 8:31 says it best, by asking “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” We just need to be still and rest in the Lord, with absolute confidence that He is more than able to do all that we ask Him to do, and that NOTHING is impossible for us IF we really have faith no bigger than a mustard seed!
Dr. Charles Stanley delivered an awesome message about walking in faith last October, which I strongly encourage anyone struggling with faith to watch. Since the Bible tells us that the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, it’s very encouraging to be reminded of how He rewarded and blessed the faithful obedience of so many of the people written about in the Old Testament, because He WILL do the same for us today!