I have often found it easier to believe God’s promises as long as I don’t expect him to answer them.
Don’t get me wrong. I would never admit that I don’t expect him to answer.
But deep down, if truth be known, I’ve taught myself to keep my expectations low, to make sure I don’t get burned, to guard against deep disappointment.
It’s safer to live that way.
I suppose it’s because somewhere along the way I believed God would do something, and He didn’t. I prayed, and He didn’t answer.
So little by little, a wedge was formed, a wedge that grew until it became the new normal.
Of course I still do my part: I believe. And if God doesn’t answer, well then at least we know whose fault that is…
When did faith get this complicated?
I came across Luke 1:45 yesterday, and it stopped me in my tracks. It’s about Mary, the mother of Jesus. It says:
“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Mary didn’t just believe in a “it’s great if it happens, but I’m ok if it doesn’t” kind of way.
Mary believed that God’s specific promises to her would be fulfilled.
She believed that she, a virgin, would conceive.
She believed that a Savior, Jesus, would be born.
She believed that what God had spoken would come to pass.
She believed though others did not.
She believed though it seemed absurd to believe.
She believed against all odds.
She believed with every expectation of an answer!
How’s your faith holding up these days?
Are you letting past disappointments and fear of the future dim your belief? Or is your faith resting completely in God’s sure promises?
Look – every promise God has made is going to be fulfilled – even when you don’t see it, even when it looks ridiculous, and even if you’re having a hard time believing it right now.
I guess the question is: What are you so afraid to believe God for?
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What if the price is too high for the promise? What if it is not happening right the way and right in front of me?
the price was too high – it cost Jesus his life. that’s what makes Jesus a trustworthy promise keeper.
i don’t believe it ever happens right away. the waiting is the process God uses to make us ready to receive the promise.
Isaiah 64:4 has always encouraged me.
praying for you Mary.
Promises are always aye and amen. Our faith can be weak and doubt
Sometimes I think that if I’m having expectations in promises…that somehow I’m ungrateful for what He’s already done.
You’re hitting on it right there Debbie: it’s expectations in the promises given by the promise keeper who does not lie! Not expectations in what we want or when we want them!
Amen sista! Great post!
Lina, thank you for quick response.
This morning, as I was doing daily devotion, a cousin walked in with third kind anti-anxiety pill (a church goer), plus going to see my mother-in-law who is going to blind, Isiah 64:4 is such encouragement for all of us.
Thank you for praying for me! Going to be an awosome weekend.
I often think of this.. what if God really did give me that husband? Eek.. I would no longer but free to do what I want when I want.. the divorce thing is scary as well.. so many people I know (both Christian and non) seem to get divorced. It would be an opportunity for God to give me growth.. maybe its best to stay as is?
this was very powerful this morning to me.Im going to share with my Mum & sis. This is inspiring a drawing im now thinking about! Thanks Lina
I didn’t realize I had been doing this. Lord, heal my unbelief!
Even in our weakest moments, our most wretched times of unbelief, our Saviour neither leaves us nor forsakes us. It is not about us, what we do or don’t do. It is about Christ Jesus and what he did and is doing.
But here’s the thing. Mary had specific promises spoken to her. We have promises for us in the Bible, but there are many in there that do not apply to us. Not every promise in the Bible is able to be applied across history, for any believer, ever. But we treat them all as if they are. And that is often where disappointment sets in. We have this faith with expectation, and the promise wasn’t for us. It’s like we eavesdropped. And then our expectations aren’t met and our faith struggles. If I know a promise applies to me, or if I get some specifically spoken to me, it’s a lot easier for me to expect God to follow through. But the discernment to know what is for me and what is not makes things more difficult. I struggle with the same kind of faith you’re talking about–the safe stuff. I know God CAN, but I don’t know WHO or WHEN, you know?
The question is what has God promised?
He has promised salvation to those who believe. He has promised to be with His children forever.
He has not promised us a house, a wonderful job, a spouse or any other thing. Please correct me if I am wrong. These things if we lack should ask God. But now I am reminded that He has asked us to seek first the kingdom then we would have our physical needs met.
He is our Father and He says He knows how to give good gifts to His children. He has said if we have faith as small as a mustard seed we can move mountains. Therefore if I have any need I ask and then trust that He will answer as a loving Father would. Sometimes that doesn’t seem enough for the people around me because they do not realise that all I would ever have is what God has given. They compare and conclude that I am not trusting enough that’s why I don’t receive. Sometimes to me it’s as if I am lacking something when I think that God knows best. He knows why He gives me certain things and not other things. So sometimes I hesitate to end my prayer with “your will be done.” Sometimes I even wonder if I will loose patience with myself and even begin to think as they that I should always be able to have my own way. For me I also pray and then play my part by not being lazy and trust that God knows best. He has answered some of my prayers beyond my imagination and I have also felt disappointed that He didn’t do certain things the way I wanted. And I am tempted to say once more God knows best. He loves me more than anybody will ever love me. He is infinite.
I actually wrote this before reading Mike and Lydia Frank’s post.
Those are some great observations, Lydia. I wish others would recognize that not every promise in the Bible is applied to every believer. That would save a lot of people a lot of disappointment. You already have discernment as evidenced by your comment. You need to study the Bible carefully and systematically and refuse to insert yourself into the Bible passages as so many are want to do these days. Understand that the Bible is about Jesus, not about us. That is the starting point. And then study the promises carefully and in context. There are a good many books available to help us. One that I would recommend is Living By God’s Promises (Deepen Your Christian Life) by
Joel R. Beeke and James A. LaBelle. It is available at amazon.com. May God bless you as you seek him and the wisdom and promises that are found only in him. – Kevin
Kevin, thanks so much for the encouragement and the book recommendation! I’ll check it out!