"But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, 'Do not be afraid, just believe, and she will be made well.'" There are just too many times in our lives when our faith feels to small. It is defined as the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1) Faith is what keeps us going. Faith is the fuel for our fire, our light.. Our light is what draws us together like moths to a flame. We are search out the light, without faith we are lost and wandering in the darkness. But faith like a mustard seed... yes a mustard seed is so tiny. However, it carries inside it a HUGE miracle of life! It will one day have roots that dig deep into the earth and can bust through stone, it will bloom and create even more mustard seeds...more faith...more grounded faith.
Have you ever been in a cave? A few years ago my boys and I went to see The Lost Sea. It is a lake that is deep underground. We are escorted in groups down into the earth through a series of caverns until we reach the lake. We take a boat right around and on the way back up we stop in a cavern. The ask us to not pull out cell phones or flashlights so that we can experience true darkness. Then the lights go out. Immediately we are flooded by blackness and our eyes start searching for light. It's a strange feeling to be in such a large space with no light. After a minute or so they turn the lights back on and we are relieved and in awe.. Nothing grows there. I could drop a mustard seed there but it will not grow in the darkness. As followers of Christ we cling to words such as "Just believe" or "Only believe" because they are not suggestions on how to live. They are literal commands. Jesus didn't shrug his shoulders and say "egh, if you want healing might I suggest believing you will be healed." No. He commanded 2 things to happen. 1. Do NOT be afraid. 2. Just believe. Then he said "she WILL be made well." Many of us walk around afraid in the dark, searching for light. We flock to our friends who have faith when we feel we have none or our faith is small. When you get the bad report from the doctor, when your adoption papers are stalled, when your finances make you feel as if you are drowning, when anything happens to us that makes us feel as if we are covered in darkness, we seek light. We call our friends and ask for prayer, we post on social media "please pray God knows the need", we text the ones we know who have bigger faith than us. They simply seem to anyway, but only because of the light. There is more... Faith is a gift. This gift rises up in believers and you may even hear them say "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13) It's true. And wow, if we all had the belief to match the faith wouldn't we always be basking in His goodness, glory, and gifts at all times. Do you believe? Do you believe that you CAN do all things that you're being called to do? I received a message a few weeks ago from a friend whose mother was diagnosed with cancer. I talked to a friend who has experienced the heartbreak of losing a pregnancy. I have hugged the neck of a sister who is desperately praying for her marriage. We all join forces and pray but do we believe? Do we believe that our single prayer is enough? Do we believe that we are being heard? Do we believe our prayers go past the clouds? Do we believe that we are deserving? Do we believe God is good? Do we believe in the healing we are asking for? Do not be afraid. Just believe. It is simple. So, when I decided it was time for a new blog post on this subject I decided it was time that I offer a reminder to us women that we have the power of Christ in us. The same power that conquered the grave. The same power that healed the sick, that gave sight to the blind, that rose the dead from the grave is in His believers. The Helper is our guide. The power of the Spirit is in us...just believe. Just Believe.
1 Comment
Angela Bearden
7/6/2016 04:56:11 pm
What a great post. Every word struck something hard in me. I have struggled so hard to believe after watching my aunt die with cancer, a good friend who is my age die with cancer leaving a son in high school behind to grieve his mother. I have experienced my own disappointments when I wasn't miracously healed of cancer 3 years ago, but underwent a surgery that damaged my lymphatic system and has left me with a horrible painful dwelling condition for the last 3 years. Have a I prayed for healing? Yes ma'am. Have a stopped believing after it seems everything I pray for dies or just stays the same? Yes ma'am. I believe in Jesus and I love Him, but my faith has taken a beating for sure. Fear has consumed my life for 3 years and I want to be free so badly. Thank you for sharing your heart.
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Come on in...I'm Aimee, former Early Childhood Educator and Reading Specialist turned author, speaker, blogger, and mom of 5. This website is meant to inspire & equip parents of little ones to promote early literacy & language development at home. You will also find fun crafts, devotionals, and recipes to explore..
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