One day my writing session was distracted by a cry. It was my neighbor’s child. I lack the ability to see through the walls so I couldn’t tell what happened. The only was clear: The child was crying in an unusual way.

I got concerned so I started praying for the child. I asked for peace to surround the little heart and take away anything that was causing the discomfort.

After a few minutes, nothing in the child’s cries changed, and I might have been tempted to think my prayers hadn’t worked.

Luckily, at the time God was teaching me to have faith in Him. I focused my heart on Him and continued to intercede despite getting discouraged by unchanging circumstances.

In the past, I’ve been trying to build my confidence in God and in my own ability to have faith. Most of the time it wasn’t about me trusting God but about my emotional power to expect a certain result.

For years I’ve been used to look at circumstances waiting until they change and approve my faith. Most of the time nothing changed. I felt disqualified and unable to believe. Because of that, most times more often than not, I skipped prayer requests from different groups on my social apps.

Why bother? I can’t do anything. I’ll try using my faith when it’s an emergency or someone close needs help.

We read stories of people who had great faith. Faith that made even Jesus marvel. It’s like they were operating in some kind of superpowers!

I didn’t have this kind of superpower. The kid upstairs continued crying.

“Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:22, ESV). That familiar verse echoed in my mind. The circumstances didn’t change and I was sure I must not have faith, because “all things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23, ESV).

The key

One revelation turned my understanding of faith right side up. Some of you know how this western faith description blinds believers from the simplicity of faith. Some of you are struggling to believe and can relate to what I'm sharing.

It’s actually so simple that I might overcomplicate in my explanation. But I’ll try my best because it has the power to set you free.

The key is visible in the answer Jesus gives after Peter gets surprised seeing the fig tree completely dead.

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22–24, ESV)

For years, I thought that I need to command the circumstances and not doubt but instead believe that I’ve received it. Only then something will happen. All the responsibility was on me and my ability to stand firm. Everything stands on my strong will to have faith that it will happen.

However, we miss the key sentence. It’s to “have faith in God.” If Jesus didn’t say this my old understanding would be true.

Having faith in God is the key that has to be used to unlock the following verses.

It’s not about having faith in your faith but about having faith in God.

The mountain can move because of God, not because of your faith. Your faith is only a tool for God to do something. It’s not your responsibility to move the mountain. You trust God and He moves the mountain.

If you change “believe” and “faith” to “faith in God,” all becomes clear: Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but has faith in God that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, have faith in God that you have received it, and it will be yours.

I have exalted my faith higher than I should’ve. It’s not the faith that had to be the main focus. The main focus has to be God.

The freedom of faith in God

It’s no longer me having confidence in my faith. It’s me trusting God. I do not waver because I trust God, His character, and His promises. Mountains can move because the Lord is faithful.

If a mountain moves based on my ability to have faith, I’ll get proud and start telling everyone, “look what my faith did.” Instead, trusting God and after He changes something I will praise Him saying, “Look what my God did for me!”

All things are possible for one who believes in God. That’s so obvious! How can it be otherwise, when we serve God Almighty!

That’s exactly the kind of faith Abraham had:

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:20–21, ESV)

That’s why after praying for the child I didn’t look to examine myself to check if my faith was strong enough. I looked at God and relied on His faithfulness, knowing that He not only is able but also willing.

Nobody could’ve told me that God didn’t care for the crying child. That gave me the strength to trust Him. After 20 minutes the cry ended. I later heard the child laughing and running. All was well. When the cries ended, I wasn’t surprised as if my prayers made it happen. I was grateful because the Lord did it.

Have faith in God!

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• Abundant Life Chronicles Blog

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