“To love involves trusting the beloved beyond the evidence, even against much evidence. No man is our friend who believes in our good intentions only when they are proved. No man is our friend who will not be very slow to accept evidence against them. Such confidence, between one man and another, is in fact almost universally praised as a moral beauty, not blamed as a logical error. And the suspicious man is blamed for a meanness of character, not admired for the excellence of his logic… You are no longer faced with an argument which demands your assent, but with a Person who demands your confidence.” – CS Lewis
Even though I’ve been a Christian my entire adult life, there are times I am filled with doubt or frustration when it comes to my relationship with God. Many times it’s self-inflicted bouts with knowing whether or not I can hear God’s voice or if I know how to walk with Him. There are moments when I can hear God so clearly, and then other times where I’m unsure if what I’m sensing is me, God, or the pizza I had…
In those moments I find that I am so critical in my ability to have faith. Yet faith is never the byproduct of striving or performing, but yielding. Yielding to who He is and who He has been in our lives. Great faith is the product of God’s even greater faithfulness. I have to learn to trust in Him, but also in my relationship with Him. To put all my eggs in the basket that is my history with God.
Faith is never the byproduct of striving or performing, but yielding. Click To TweetWhen we are called to trust God, it isn’t some arbitrary thing we do because we have to. Trust is developed through a track record of someone coming through and being dependable. It’s because someone proved that he or she was trustworthy, and we only really know that in the context of relationship. It’s the same with God. The call to trust Him then is a call to be in relationship.
So when push comes to shove, what do we trust in? Is it in our relationship with God or how I’m doing in my Christian life? Let’s say hypothetically an issue arises where you need faith to see a miracle or a breakthrough. It’s urgent and you need God NOW! What gives us confidence that God will indeed answer our prayers? Is it our good behavior this past month? Is it in the fact that we’ve been reading our Bible regularly? Is it in our own faith? Or is it simply entirely His grace and our relationship with Him? It’s putting all of our weight on Him and trusting He’ll still hold us up no matter what.
Great faith is the product of God’s even greater faithfulness. Click To TweetI am blessed to say that I have amazing people in my life. Some I talk to regularly, and others due to life and circumstances, I don’t as much. But I know that regardless of how close I might be to them, if I needed them, they would be there for me. Yet that’s not how I view God at times. I think because I’ve been struggling or because I didn’t do my QT this week, He won’t be there for me. Friends, it’s time to take our eyes off of us, and onto Him. To put our trust not in what we do for God, but in our relationship with Him. What gives me faith to hear His voice today is knowing that I’ve heard Him speak to me before. Why? Because that’s relationship!
When it comes to relationship with God, lean into what He says in His Word. That He is for us, that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that we are already seated with Him! It’s from that foundation of truth that our relationship is built. The Bible says faith comes by hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). So have grace for yourself in learning His voice and leading. I’m constantly learning myself on what it means to hear His voice and walk with Him daily. Today invite Him to speak and tune into His voice. When you are filled with doubt, just trust in your relationship with Him. He won’t hang you out to dry. Amen.