How Can We Develop Faith in What We Cannot See?
By Meg Bucher
“Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.” Proverbs 17:15
“What?! But that’s not what I said!”
I lost a lifetime friend because someone else misinterpreted what I said in a group text and passed it along like a childhood game of telephone. It hurt to be misunderstood, but what hurt even more was my lifelong friend believing it immediately and completely writing me off. I couldn’t apologize, talk it out, or explain …an entire friendship had been blown up in a matter of minutes.
Is there anything more frustrating than being misunderstood, misheard, misinterpreted, or invalidated? It can make us feel crazy, trying to explain to someone who doesn’t want to acknowledge what we might have been trying to communicate, and instead stubbornly sticks to the version they want to believe, even if it’s not true. Our human pride will naturally jump to defend the misrepresentation of our character, and our sin-filled souls can be so tempted to waste precious time righting a wrong that is impossible for us to rectify.
What does that have to do with our verse today? David wrote, in this single sentence, of his ability to believe beyond what he could see or even completely understand. He knew God’s character. David knew He could question God, without questioning His character. There’s a big difference. If my lifelong friend had chosen to remember my character, she would have dismissed the gossip that painted me in a bad light. But she didn’t. How often do we confuse questioning God and asking God questions?
“The word awake shows that David believed in life after death,” The New Life Application Bible explains, “Although belief in the resurrection was not widespread in Old Testament times, several verses show that it was partially understood.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
“But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave. “- Psalm 49:15
Once again, David’s powerful faith in what he cannot see or fully understand is on display. Throughout David’s life, he made mistakes, disobeyed, panicked, cried out in pain, felt remorse, and learned to repent. He wasn’t perfect, yet the Bible said he had a heart after God’s own. We miss this so often, in life, confusing Christianity with “having it all figured out.” To be closer to God, we often become competitive, comparative, and judgmental of other people who don’t know Jesus, or who we feel are not as mature as we are in their journey with Jesus.
How can we avoid these common pitfalls and sharpen our ability to discern what is true and what is false in our daily lives? Faith in the resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith in Christ.
Practical Ways to Increase Our Faith in What We Cannot See or Fully Understand
1. Prayer
Scripture tells us to “pray continually.” I often wonder if my lifelong friend had paused to pray before she reacted to gossip, if it would have changed her reaction. Scripture tells us to be slow to anger, not to stir up gossip, and to go directly to a brother or sister who has an offense against us. That day, the hurt stung my eyes and dripped down my face. But losing my friend wasn’t what I mourned over. I grieved at how someone could misunderstand my character …and I felt I had somehow misrepresented God. Prayerfully, I took the situation to the Lord day after day, and over time, He granted me the clarity and strength to move on. I apologized even though I was wrongly accused. I went directly to my friend to resolve the disagreement and was slow to anger. I took my hurt to the Lord.
2. Study
Faith in what we cannot see directly affects our everyday situations. We cannot see God, yet we know He is unshakably with us always. If it matters to us, it matters to God. So, I pray to Him often about things that, in the grand scheme of life, are small but feel huge to me now. He meets me there every time.
Studying God’s Word is essential. We cannot see God, so we must meet Him in the one place He speaks to us the most…His Word—the Bible. Over time, when we pursue Him daily through prayer and the Word, we get to know God. Yes, the Creator of the Universe! A daily discipline of spending time with Him yields an incredible faith in what we cannot see.
3. Ask Questions!
God is not afraid of our questions. He promises that when we search for Him, we will find Him. We can ask questions about who He is and find amazing devotionals, studies, and leaders to guide us in the knowledge of Scripture to uncover and unlock amazing attributes of who He is. When we come to Him with a posture of humility, He is faithful to guide us! He wants a relationship with us!
It's not only OK to question God about what’s happening in our lives and our world; it’s the best place to seek answers. He is all-knowing! He knows the answers to all of our questions and is so compassionate with our hearts and minds as He reveals answers and increases our knowledge of Him.
Father,
Thank You for who You are. Teach us more about You each day! Grow in us hearts of discernment, which allow us to understand the complicated situations of our lives, in a way we wouldn’t be able to without You. Help us to be quick to forgive, and wise in the ways we spend our time. Give us the ability to know and recognize good character, God. Help us to be slow to anger, patient in forgiveness, and bold in running to You with our questions and big emotions. In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Further Reading:
Job 19: 25-27
Psalm 16:10
Isaiah 26:19
Daniel 12: 2, 13
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Pixdeluxe
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