Saturday, February 3, 2007

Faith

Over the past few months, I have been having some huge struggles with doubt. It's almost as if I had absolutely no faith at all. Doubt and fear (which I mentioned before) have been my constant companions. A friend suggested that I read Hebrews 11. It is the faith chapter. Well, as I was reading it, I only found myself more agitated. These people's faith was counted to them as righteousness. If this was the case, what was my lack of faith doing? "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." "And without faith it is impossible to please Him..." (Hebrews 11:1 & 6 ESV)

In my little brain I wonder, where does faith come from? How do we get more faith? I don't really know. (If anyone has an answer I would appreciate it.) I started flipping through my Bible, and I came to Romans 4:18.

"In hope he (Abraham) believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."
In verse 20, something caught my eye. "But he grew in his faith as he gave glory to God." Abraham's faith grew when he was praising God. No matter how I feel. I need to praise God, because He is God. There are many things in my life that I cannot see, and sometimes I don't believe that they will come, but I need to "believe against hope" that God will provide. I will praise Him.
"And I'll praise You in this storm, and I'll lift my hands.
For You are who You are, no matter where I am.
Every tear I've cried, You hold in Your hand.
You never left my side, and though my heart is torn,
I'll praise You in this storm."
Casting Crowns