Will You Choose Faith in God Over Faith in an Outcome?

    The reading of an article this week confronted me with the question, 'Will we choose faith in God over faith in an outcome?' The question was like an arrow to my heart. I am a product of my society. I want instant results. I want prayers answered immediately and as much as I'd like to believe otherwise, oftentimes I am not as submitted to God as I ought to be. I become too easily frustrated and discouraged with circumstances, people and inability to see any changes when I've prayed and trusted God to work out His will. The article forced me to admit this to myself.
   God's word clearly assures us that He loves us and wants the very best for us. God promises to complete the good work He has begun in us and to meet our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6 and 4:19). Jeremiah 29:11 presents the truth that God has a plan for us, a plan for our welfare and not calamity, a plan to give us a future and a hope. Romans 8:28-29 says that God will work all things together for our good and His glory and in the process that He will conform us to the image of His Dear Son.
  Of times I forget about God and His purposes and promises and focus on my desires, frustrations and discouragements. I fail to see that God wants me to trust in Him and not in an outcome. Choosing to trust in Him instead of in an outcome reveals that I really am submitted to Him and His purposes. It reveals that I trust His character, His Word and His plan for me and others.
  Author of the article, Joanna Weaver wrote that 'the importance of our answer to the question, 'Will we choose faith in God over faith in an outcome?' cannot be overstated, because the depth of our relationship with God depends on its answer. Until we allow God to be God, we act as if He is our servant and are sure to be disappointed with the consequences of such delusion. If we fail to surrender our agendas, wish lists, and master plans to Him, we'll never see Christ as He truly is---or personally experience Him as our resurrection and life.'
  Therefore, if we want to know Christ as He really is, we must let God be God and bow to His Wisdom, Power and Sovereignty. Will you choose faith in God over faith in an outcome?

Lessons We Are to Learn

    The sixth chapter of Mark contains several lessons that we should learn. In verses one through six, we should learn the lesson regarding unbelief or lack of faith. Jesus was visiting his hometown of Nazareth. When he taught with power and authority in the synogogue, the people who had known of him before the beginning of his ministry saw only the carpenter, the son of Mary. They heard his authoritative teaching, saw some of his miracles, but would not respond in faith to what they heard and saw. They trusted in what they knew and what they could understand and missed the Son of God and the mighty works that he could have done in their midst had they believed in Him. The fifth and sixiths verse say, 'He could do no mighty works there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them, and He marveled at their unbelief.'
The people of Nazareth short changed themselves. We do too, when we walk by sight and not by faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that 'without faith it is impossible to please God for we must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.'
    In verses seven through thirteen, Mark tells us of Jesus sending the twelve as missionaries. He gave them His message and sent them out. He instructed them to carry nothing for the journey except a walking stick. The lesson to be learned was that God provides for us as we are obedient to Him.
    In verses thirty through forty, Jesus takes the five loaves and two fishes and feeds five thousand plus people, and had left-overs. The lessons to be learned are that whatever we give to God He is able to use and to multiply for His purposes, and He is adequate to meet our needs no matter the nature or magnitude of those needs.
    Verses forty-five through fifty-two present other lessons to be learned. Jesus sent the disciples by sea to Bethsaida while he stayed behind. He went to a mountain to pray and while crossing the sea, the disciples encountered a great storm. They were straining to deal with the storm, but the wind was against them. Jesus was perfectly aware of their predicament and walked on the water to go to them in the storm. They were afraid of the storm and afraid when they saw Him. They didn't recognize Him. In the midst of the situation, they mistook Him for a ghost. But, He said, 'Be not afraid.it is I. He stepped into the boat with them and the winds and the waves ceased. They were greatly amazed within themselves beyond measure and marveled. For they understood not about the loaves (the lesson), because their hearts were hardened.' Imagine it. The disciples had heard Jesus teachings, had seen His mighty works, had been sustained by God's provision on their missionary journey, had seen Jesus take five loaves and two fishes and feed five thousand with left-overs, but had not learned the lessons that each was supposed to teach. Why not? They had not really considered what they had heard, seen or experienced. They had not meditated on these things. Therefore, their hearts were hardened, not filled with faith, not trusting God in whatever circumstance they found themselves.
    We would do well to learn these lessons, to meditate on these things and the things we have heard, seen and in experienced in our lives because of the promises, goodness, grace, provision and power of God.