Day Fourteen
As a Church Family we have embarked on a 40-day quest to intentionally grow our faith, to take stock of our supply and lean into God to multiply and increase what we have. We are examining the things that are faith stealers, which can deplete the supply we have, and create a deficit in us. The reason I’m dealing with the ‘faith stealers’ before unpacking things that are ‘faith healers’ is because we need to identify and uproot the things in our lives that could counteract our efforts to grow our faith. If you are like me, I often don’t realize what is there until God’s Word shines a light on it!
I remember one year my son Nathan coming to me in February and telling me that he wanted something for his birthday. He described the color and every little detail of this thing in a passionate plea to be heard. His birthday was in October! Not only did he carefully explain what he wanted, but he kept at me on an almost daily basis, for weeks and weeks (one of his great qualities is persistence ☺)
In June sometime, the item came on sale and I purchased it and put it high up in my closet where he wouldn’t find it. Not long after I bought it the pleas started up again, and in a burst of mischievous exasperation I informed him, “I’m sorry love I have already bought your birthday present!” It was the absolute truth, but he assumed that I had not bought him what he wanted. He was devastated and told me he wasn’t even going to get out of bed on his birthday, it wasn’t worth it, and how could I love him if I didn’t get him what he’d asked for…..On and on it went, and all the time I carefully answered him with “You just need to be grateful for whatever you get. There are children in the world that get no presents….”
His birthday came around and we went to wake him to wish him happy birthday. True to his word he put the covers over his head and said “I’m not getting up, there’s no point!” I told him that his present was on the foot of his bed when he was ready, and slowly I saw his foot reach out to see how big the present was, then the covers came down to inspect it further with his eyes. The box was the right size and shape, so he shot up in bed, grabbed the package and tore it open. Of course it was exactly what he had asked for and was even the right color! He looked at me incredulously and said, “but you said……” I finished the sentence off for him “I have already bought your present and no amount of persuasion can get me to change my mind about what I have bought” ☺
I know that I have acted the same way with God when I feel like there is no outward sign that what I have asked Him for, is on its way! God’s timing is always perfect, He’s never late, but in our estimation He’s often slow!
Delays in God answering our prayers can be a faith stealer. We assume, He doesn’t want to give it to us, He hasn’t heard us, or for whatever reason we don’t deserve it.
There are some things that I’ve had to wait years for, and in fact thought God had forgotten about, however with hindsight can see the wisdom of God in the waiting.
Is there something that you have not received from God yet that is causing your faith to be depleted? Express that to God today and surrender to His timing.
Scripture to meditate on: Ecclesiastes chapter 3