That wistful desire for something…..dare you believe that it might happen – or are you resigned to resisting discouragement in the face of sure dissapointment?
What are you hoping for – some material thing? Or is it something intagible, a state of being“? Whatever it is, do the obstacles that stand in the way of it coming true loom so large, that receiving this wish seems in the realm of the impossible? As a realistic, rational person, are you (almost) embarassed to believe that it will come to you?
Well, that’s a good place to be. Hoping for the impossible in the realm of the possible. The faith spot.
Knowing what you want, and daring to believe that it will come to you is the essence of faith. Being sure of what you hope for, and certain of the things that you do not see is how the bible puts it.
Sounds good, but that’s hard – at least if you’re the rational, pragmatic type like me. The instant I’m in that spot, all the reasons why it WON’T happen, why it CAN’T happen, why it SHOULDN’T happen tend to flood my mind….
So what do you do with this: ” “Have faith in God….“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
I don’t know about you, but my first impulse before telling a mountain to go jump in the sea – if I were to obey that first impulse- would be to look around furtively to see if anyone is looking (as I’d rather not be carried off in a straitjacket by paramedics to the nearest facility for a mental health exam).
Yet, that is exactly what I am NOT to do – not physically, nor mentally – admitting doubt through the door of the fear of looking ridiculous.
What I need to do is to press past my logic, the sense of incredulity, and yes, my rational mind. This will (should) give you pause, but is is a prerequisite nevertheless.
Of course, before even making my petition, I must check that my requests are in accordance with God’s will – e.g. at a minimum are not contrary to scripture, and (distinguish this from deceptive guilt) my conscience is not discomfited by the request, nor reproaches me for it.
This done, such faith requires me to step into the realm of the impossible, the unreasonable, the inconceivable. It does not mean that I lose my senses – I am to retain reason, rationale, my logical ability in general, as always – but so far as the unseen things that I am petitioning God for, I need to step into the realm of the impossible – there recognizing and holding firmly onto the fact that God is the creator of EVERYTHING, alone knowing the secret keys to how everything came into existence, works and holds together- and in that place, deliberately believe and trust that God (and He alone) can do what I am requesting. An example of this would be the admirable approach of this man.
Yes, it would be madness to expect this in the natural, however, I am operating in a different realm. Now, I am operating in the realm of the incredible, the impossible – firmly and determinedly believing that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD, AND WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
In that place, I can take pleasure in the knowledge that I am taking God at His word. I can bask in the knowledge that I am pleasing Him – and then wait expectantly, expecting to see manifest what you have asked for.
Dare you step in that spot today?
(First published 2014; 643 words)