Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.—Romans 10:17
I’ve been praying a number of prayers lately that don’t seem to be availing much, as James 5:16 says they will. So I’ve been asking God for a fresh breeze of faith and, of course, I’ve suggested that answering a few of those prayers would fill my sails just fine.
“If you’d heal Aunt Peggy’s cancer, Lord, and Rosalie’s and Jim’s, that would definitely remind me that nothing is too difficult for You.
“Help Mother find some help, so Daddy can get out of the nursing home—back in his own home where he belongs, back to his wife’s cooking, back to his brown recliner in front of his own TV set. A provision like that would move my faith right along, Lord.
“How about a new job for my husband? A challenging, fulfilling one (or even some extra grace for the one he has) would assure me that You haven’t forsaken us.”
God has answered my prayer for more faith, but not in the ways I suggested. A few nights ago, as I got into bed, He slipped this thought into my head: Faith doesn’t come from answered prayers, Lucy. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God.
I’d been letting my faith float up, down, up, down, on the waves of answered and seemingly unanswered prayers, instead of anchoring it to the unchanging Word of God. That’s where He demonstrates His matchless power, His perfect timing and His commitment to unfaithful humanity. That’s where a fresh breeze of faith is always blowing.
Thank You, Father, for Your Word, the source of all faith.
