Do You Believe by Rocky Fleming
The last few days have been heavy. I’ve been waking up at 2:00 or 3:00 am with a heavy heart. There are some family concerns of our own, as well health concerns for my best friend’s wife, who would die later that day. It was sad for us all. But, she took her last breath and entered heaven. Hallelujah! Answered prayer.
There has also been a disturbance within me where the Accuser is working overtime to create conflict within my heart toward someone. I’ve seen the evil man try to do this with other people, so it is no surprise that he is returning to a vulnerable spot in me to create disturbance. The truth is, it is not the person that I have a problem with but rather the evil man who whispers in ears and hardens hearts and creates slander and deceit. I must remember this. I cannot take the bait and slander back, if I want to protect my soul. The cost is too great. It’s so easy to fall into a trap thinking that we must fight fire with fire, when entreating if slandered (1 Cor. 4:13) is the way Christ leads His family to react to such things. Wouldn’t we be falling into the Accuser’s trap if we did follow his ways? Obviously so. I’ve seen how this trap leads to a root of bitterness in a person who is a victim. It is a poison that is taken in small dosages, thinking that it causes no harm. But when it does take over, and it will, a spiritual rot begins destroying the host. It is just too costly to join it. Right?
This is only one example of several concerns I’ve been repeatedly taking to Jesus in prayer, in those early morning hours. This time is often called the, “Dark night of the soul.” It is a place and time where we find our self in agony until we lay those burdens before the Lord to get His guidance and relief. Have you been there? Are you there now? Keep reading, for God’s relief came, but not before I came to see what kept me attached to those burdens.
It was the night before our friend’s death that I had one of those 2:00 am meetings with my Good Shepherd. I heard clearly something spoken to my soul, and it was repeated over and over until I understood that when the question is answered, I would find the freedom I sought. I heard, “Do you Believe?” The question went on for a while, over and over. I thought, “What am I to believe, if I don’t already?” My faith in Jesus Christ is solid. I’ve felt that we have a good, unhindered relationship, for abiding in Him and with Him is the most important concern in my life. I thought of the man I had ruffled feelings with, and knew that forgiveness must be clearly given, and blessings requested for the man. It just works that way with the Lord and me. There’s no excuse that I felt he wronged me. In fact, forgiveness is most sincere and pleasing to the Lord when we pass God’s grace to the underserving people. I did this, and continue to do so. It is a battle plan that people in ministry have to go to often. I’ve faced that issue many times before, and I know that true forgiveness will unpack a load off our soul in a hurry. But, the question, “Do you believe?” continued to be whispered into my soul. Finally, a thought emerged that clarified the question to me. I was being asked if I believe that my prayers that I had been burdened with and had been offering up would be answered by God. I knew for sure that this is what I was being asked. But, how can I know if I was on track? It is a time like this that I most often seek confirmation from scripture with the path I’m headed down. I need to make sure I’m hearing from God and not me. I turned in the Bible to a passage that lights up the question I was being asked.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV). This passage instructs me to take hold, by faith, of the thing I hope for, even though I don’t see anyway that it could be done. I believe not doing this keeps us in a place where we have theoretical faith, but by not exercising our faith, it becomes a conflict in our faith, not to mention a conflict in seeing our prayers answered. I agree that it is a difficult thing to do. But faith is always difficult until we learn to live by it.
Some of you may be thinking that this might be trying to force God to do something I want and ask for, and if He doesn’t do it, my faith weakens and my intimacy with Him becomes distant? If you thought this, I would join you with being disturbed by the thought of it as well. But before tuning me out let me bring another verse in that connects faith and trust in God without it being on our time table or the way we’ve determined. The answer still comes from the faith chapter of Hebrews. Let’s look at the answer:
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar,...” Hebrews 11:13. What do you see? Do you see how true faith in God, as God sees it, is not determined by timetable and specifics that we determine. It is to know, by faith, by trust, that the thing we hope for will be done in God’s way and timetable. Though it might be later and in a different way, it will be done. Our faith looks into an unknown future time, assured that it will be done. We see into the future with the eyes of faith, and we find peace and rest in the present.
Some of you might find yourself in an issue that you are looking at a long term, developing problem such as a young family member who looks like he or she is headed to destruction, and taking you with it emotionally. There could be other similar similar issues, as well. I’m there with you. It has been one of my concerns. The patterns of behavior by these loved ones suck us into their bad choices, and we are grieved by the thought of it is and where it is headed. But, how would it help to believe in the depth of your heart that help will show up before destruction does? If you were given a window into the future that showed you the change that would turn things around for your child, or any trouble you have now and the thing you hope for will be done, would that bring comfort and peace to you at present? That can be the case, if your faith in God is broad enough to allow His plan to accomplish that which you hope for without it being your specific narrative. That is where faith will be challenged, but it will grow as well. That is faith, as God requires.
I was asked, “Do you believe?” and I was asked again and again until I saw what I had to do. “Yes Lord, I believe. I accept this truth and rest in it.” That’s just how faith works. That’s what God is looking for in His family.
“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.” Romans 4:20-22 (NLT)