What Faith Is NOT
While we often talk about faith and hear a lot of awesome messages about what it is and how important it is, perhaps it’s even more important to talk about what faith is NOT, especially in the context of standing for marriage restoration.
First, faith has absolutely nothing to do with ANYTHING we can see, hear, touch, smell or taste. That’s right, if we can see it, hear it, touch it, smell it or taste it, it has nothing to do with faith, because faith is not required in any way, shape or form for ANYTHING perceived through our natural senses, as Hebrews 11:1 (AMP) tells us NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. That means that ANYTHING we believe, expect or consider probable or even remotely possible based on ANY circumstance, behavior, situation, information, fact or evidence of any kind has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with faith. And the reason it’s important to understand what faith is not as we stand for the restoration of our marriages is because Hebrews 11:6 warns 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. And Hebrews 10:38 more specifically states But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” So when we need to see, hear, touch, smell or taste something to believe it, or when we require encouraging and affirming circumstances, behavior, situations, information, facts, or evidence of ANY kind to be convinced of something or believe something, we’re NOT living by faith, and God is not pleased with us. In fact, when we’re required to believe that God will restore our marriages without any reason or evidence to believe it, despite ALL of the physical facts and evidence indicating otherwise, and we refuse to put our faith in God, and completely trust and rely on Him, that’s shrinking back from living by faith, and God is DISPLEASED. And that’s definitely NOT good when His word tells us that we MUST believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. In other words, there’s NO point in turning to God for the restoration of our marriages if we lack the faith and confidence that He WILL reward us for doing so.
The reason I believe it might be MORE important to focus on what faith is not than what it is, especially in the context of standing for marriage restoration, is that faith ALWAYS requires us to believe what there’s no earthly reason to believe, which almost always means ignoring a MOUNTAIN of contrary evidence. Yet it’s that very lack of evidence and reason to believe that our marriages ARE being restored that causes so many “standers” to become discouraged and give up. So despite many passages of scripture indicating that faith is required to move God’s hand on our behalf when we pray and stand for the restoration of our marriages, and despite having an opportunity of biblical proportion to exercise our faith and experience the awesome miracles God promises to give us, it’s entirely possible that our own failure to live by faith is preventing the restoration of our marriages. And Matthew 13:57-58 leaves little doubt of that, because it says And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. So our lack of faith can literally keep the Lord from restoring our marriages! Fortunately in contrast to that, Romans 4:19-25 (AMP) was written to remind us of how faithful God is to reward our faith and obedience, because it says 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. 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, Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). But [the words], It was credited to him, were written not for his sake alone, But [they were written] for our sakes too. [Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God]. We should all memorize “he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised”, because that is EXACTLY what we have to do if we’re serious about standing, without giving up, for the restoration of our marriages, because doing less is NOT living by faith and will not please God. And faith and obedience is what it takes to release God’s awesome power to bring our seemingly dead marriages back to life! So, as Hebrews 12:2-3 tells us, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.