The Seduction of Faith

Recently, well really, for some time now, I've been confronted with the inadequacy of faith to produce the results we expect. The teaching floating around leads us to believe that if our faith is strong enough and we are following the right procedures enough and we don't have any "known sin" in our lives, then God will grant us whatever we desire.

Reality doesn't support the teaching. So . . . what IS the problem?? Is it about having enough faith? Jesus said all we needed was faith the size of a mustard seed. I have at least that much, don't you? Jesus' sacrifice paid for all of my sins, or is that just past sins and not current? Hmmm . . . interesting thought. I'll have to puzzle on that one.

Is it possible that the sovereignty of God trumps even the strongest faith? Is it possible that even the unwanted events, including tragedy and suffering and death are tools in His hands to accomplish His purposes? What if God really is in control and everything that happens in life is part of the process?

We scramble for explanations when things don't happen the way we want. The disease isn't cured, the miracle doesn't come, the daughter dies an untimely death. That's when the "enemy" comes in handy - someone to blame, to hold accountable, some evil entity that isn't God. That enemy "got something over" on God, or so the thinking goes.

Do we dare to believe that the loving God we know can be behind the tough places in life? Is it enough to know that our sufferings fill up the sufferings of Christ, as the Apostle Paul says?

I believe that God really is in control and everything and everyone serves Him, knowingly or unknowingly. I can put my trust in His plans and purposes because of who He is. We can never discern accurately who He is by looking at circumstances. Human thinking is "good God equals good circumstances." Obviously God has a plan and purpose far beyond our temporal comfort. God is not formulaic. He is dynamic and real and alive. He has no buttons to push and cannot be pushed beyond His limits. His interaction with us is alive and present and He loves us with a consuming passion. You can't do better than that!