Blog
Can vs. Will
Category: Spirituality
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
-Hebrews 11:1
I've been struggling with the meaning of "faith" lately. Obviously, Hebrews 11 provides me with a pretty simple definition, but it gets more complicated when I go to apply it. This has been a particular struggle in relation to healing. For example, I have absolutely no doubt that God is able to heal - there is no struggle there. I have full faith that the God I cannot see can perform miraculous acts in my life and the life of those that I love. What I don't know is what God will do. Am I lacking faith if I pray for healing, but am not certain that He will answer my prayer with a "Yes?"
My instinct is to say that no, God will often answer my prayers with a "No" or a "Not Yet." But what about "I will do whatever you ask in my name" (John 14:13)? Isn't there something to the whole "Your faith has healed you" stuff? But what if I pray for healing, believe with all my heart that He will do it, then He doesn't. Am I lacking in faith? Am I not doing enough? I can't believe that. I just don't believe that that is how God works. No. The best I can do is to believe that He has the power, ask Him to heal me, and believe that He is in control and will get me through it one way or another.
Joanna
Posted on August 11, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Wow. I never really thought of it that way. Of course we've all heard "your faith has healed you", but I never really thought that God would leave it in our hands that much.
I like your last line...that's probably the best way to look at it. I will admit that my faith is very often lacking. I rarely put full trust in God answering my prayer with a "Yes"...as you said, not that I think He isn't capable, but that I just--don't expect it. So the best thing is to pray for guidance, ask Him to help me trust, and expect that He will answer my prayer in the way that is best for me. And if it's "Yes", I'm usually pleasantly surprised and respond in praise.
I dunno if this comment helped, but I just thought I'd say something. Ha.
Jude
Posted on August 11, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Asking for something in faith by definition means asking for God to work out his way.
So when someone's faith makes them well it means their request was in accordance with God's will.
And other times they need to make an effort. You can't just pray for comfort and healing. You need to do something about it as well.
Neko
Posted on August 13, 2009 at 02:45 AM
Hebrews 11:1 was the first verse I chose on my own to memorize. The language of the line was something so transcendent, I knew I'd be able to treasure it even outside of its original religious context. Because faith is a general term, it is more than simply belief in any particular thing, and I find faith to be a wholly uplifting concept.
In short, I love that verse ^^;;
Saralynn
Posted on September 26, 2009 at 03:19 AM
We are to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. The door will be opened. We *will* find. (Matt. 7:7)
Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
James 1 says some great stuff about asking, receiving, and faith. =)
hope this encourages you. =)