Intro
If you haven’t yet seen the film Miracles from Heaven, I highly recommend that you do. A video clip can be found at the link below:
The movie tells the story of a terminally sick little girl being healed, and of a mother struggling to hang on to her faith thru her daughter’s illness. When the child is first diagnosed the mother leaves no stone unturned in trying to find a cure for her daughter, and to no avail. She feels God has abandoned her. But in the end the situation is taken entirely out of the mother’s control. Her daughter falls 30 feet down a hollow tree. Unable to even reach her daughter, let alone intervene, the mother falls on her knees in prayer. The little girl emerges from the tree entirely healed, and with a fantastic testimony.
Most of us are like the mother in that story. We struggle to hang on to our faith in times of trial, only to realize in retrospect that there was a plan in place all along. But where do we turn in the middle of the storm, and what can the Bible teach us about faith that might light our way in the meantime?
Scripture and Commentary
- We must understand that faith is a gift from God, and not all have an equal measure
John 6:63-65
63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
I Corinthians 12:3-11
3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Romans 12:3-8
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
- We need to realize our faith can be increased
By the hearing of God’s word- Romans 10:17
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Thru the prayers and encouragement of other believers-1 Thessalonians 3:2-10
2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
By asking- Mark 9:21-24
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
- And in the meantime
We can be comforted by the Holy Spirit’s intercession on our behalf, and the surety of the result- Roams 8:26-28
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.
Conclusion
So now we have some tools to use the next time our faith is tried. Remember that the trying of our faith works patience (James 1:3) and develops us in our walk with God.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.
Be blessed.
K
Our Eyes On Him 