Can illness and suffering be beneficial to us?
When Suffering Seems Unbearable Series.
Leaving Room to the Real Provider. Am I in the Way? When Suffering Seems Unbearable, Part 8
Faith is not what it appears to be. It is beyond anyone's comprehension,
especially if it is rooted on the One who is above our circumstances! "I have
been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The
life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me." (Gal 2:20 NIV)
We need to ask ourselves an important question: Who do we trust?
One church has an ardent desire to build a church school. A renowned motivator
is hired, carefully designed pamphlets are developed, sermons designed to
encourage pledges and donations are preached, elders visit members, advertising
the upcoming school, and the venture is broadcasted in every corner of church
life.
Another church raises funds for a much needed enlargement to their sanctuary.
When missionaries visit, however, they realize that the people the missionaries
are serving are in bigger need than they. Filled with compassion, they donate
all the money raised for the sanctuary to the missionaries.
Would you like to guess which church proceeded to grow beyond its bounds?
One church continually emphasizes the necessity of bringing their tithes to the
local church. Another one lets their needs be known only to God. Still another
church refuses to receive tithes, and instead, places an offering box at the
back of the church for anyone who feels impressed by God's Spirit to give to the
local ministry.
Would you like to guess which ones grew beyond their bounds?
Have we forgotten that humanly speaking, we can't provide for our own needs?
There is only One who always comes through for us! Why are we still looking to
other sources of blessings? Where is our faith?
Let us remember the mustard covered faith that Jesus encourages us to obtain: "I
tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to
this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be
impossible for you." (Matt 17:20 NIV)
Do we want to see miracles? Let's stop relying on other human beings, and
instead, let's learn to rely on our Provider! Only then will we see the
mountains of our lives move out of the way!
No matter what our needs may be, He will shine! But our faith has to be anchored
in the Provider, not on our own or other people's efforts!
Too often we do not leave enough room for God and we succeed in hindering His
best intentions for us. May we learn to share all of our needs solely with our
Maker, and then stand back expectantly, watching for Him to take action! "I wait
for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God." (Ps 38:15 NIV)
Miracles are only possible through the only Provider of all of our needs! Do we
believe that?
P. S. The next few devotionals will be written by ordinary people who left room
for God to act, and then watched as miracles were performed before their eyes.
Nothing is too difficult to God! "What is impossible with men is possible with
God." (Luke 18:27 NIV)
Hallelujah!
Rob Chaffart
Check out some faith-moving testimonies
