A Greater Gift Than Faith
Have you ever prayed a prayer then you were surprised when you realized it was answered? I have to admit this happens to me. Me, the one who has stacks upon stacks of journals filled with accounts of answers to my prayers. But still from time to time I’m reminded what fragile faith I have.
When this happens my natural reaction is to feel intense guilt and beat myself up. How could I be so faithless, as if faith was something I had attained, something I had created in myself?
Jesus gently puts His hand on my shoulder and softly says — Shawna, you may not remember, but the faith that you do have, is a gift from me. Today you received yet another gift. When you were startled at the direct answer to your prayer, that was from Me. Although you prize the faith that I have given you, what you didn’t realize was seeing your need is a far more valuable gift, the real one to be desired. If you need more faith just ask. — “for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NKJ
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thought. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” Psalm 139:24 NLT
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3 NLT
Hmmm…I enjoyed your vulnerability and sharing the Hope from your experience. However, I still see Christ granting us faith as the greater gift (over our need). That being said, I also agree with you, that God wants us to come, fully surrendered, asking for our needs (all of them)— through His strength to encourage and build us in Him(self).
I’ve had ginormous prayers answered (I’m a stage 4 cancer survivor) as well as, “please Father, help me merge in this traffic without breaking out in a sweat!” Answered. I would hope to become a woman who brings all my needs as well as my hopes, dreams, character defects, joys and sorrows to Him, not just daily, but hour by hour and moment by moment.
I so love your drawings (birding is my hobby, along with gardening), and pray God’s favor over you, Shawna!
Thank you for your encouragement and sharing your thoughts. Perhaps I should have been more clear as to the “need” I was referring to. We can get busy in life doing what we know is right and “filling journals with answers to prayer” yet get easily distracted in believing “I’m okay” when in reality depending on Christ for our salvation is the greater gift.
I hope this helps to clarify things 🙂
Oh my word, YES! That explains it crystal clear and I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you, Shawna.