Sweet Results of Faith

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11 v. 1

It’s not that life does not throw surprising curve balls occasionally. There are moments when these balls hit more frequently, which cancels out my peripheral expectations of smooth sailing until the other one strikes. One after another it sometimes seems, leading me to ask, with this rate of recurrence, what is the irrational pattern behind it all? Was it something I did, said, or didn’t do? Could it be my turn to experience the full effect of Satan’s schemes? Often, I fall upon these questions, repeating them many times in my head as I move away from such vile events. Uncertain whether these general requests of basic understanding offer me any absolution, I walk into grace as I only know how.

Looking up at the sky on a wintry spring evening, I view the stars I look to see. Even beyond clouds, I know they are there, shining down on me as I walk across the snowy backyard to straighten up a solar garden light tipped over by intense winds. The stars shine on me as I shake off the heavy snow from one or two pine trees, and blow on my fingers for warmth between each try. On these nights, even my winter gloves do not protect my hands from the cold. But I shake off the snow, anyway, forgetting that it’s truly a chilly night. I call the dogs with my general tone and gesture to tell them it’s time to go inside. With each step, I think how good it is to know I saved several branches from breaking away from tree trunks, which supported them from their stages of youth. And in these moments, the effects of recent curve balls seem to somehow disappear.

A cup of warm tea comes next, then I partake in many levels of deep prayer. Prayer offers me great comfort. Emotions felt are profound, which make them difficult to explain. And in recent years, my prayers of importunity were those I seriously thought about before I even began the process.  When I decided these prayers were indeed necessary to fulfill my living and aging needs, with great faith I began to pray earnestly and with hopeful trust that these needs would be answered. Today, I endure sweet glimpses of the results of this faith. Like curve balls these hints are fast, yet they slow down long enough for me to recognize what is truly happening. But unlike unpleasant curve balls with their rate of speed, disappointment, and heart-felt pain, these gentle indications appear with beautiful fragments representing truth first accompanied by elements of divine wisdom.

Do you know there are enemies of grace who often try to trip us up into believing a bunch of nonsense? Or those who attack anything having to do with the Bible? Some even pick-and-choose verses that are not contextual to attempt to prove their point. What’s outside our doors or even displayed through technology can be shocking. But shouldn’t be surprising, because in God’s very Word, we are warned of such things. 

Hebrews 11 v. 1, tells us:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

So, what does this mean exactly?  

On this, John Chrysostom wrote: “Faith needs a generous and vigorous soul, one rising above all things of sense and passing beyond the weakness of human reasonings. For it is not possible to become a believer otherwise than by raising one’s self above the common customs of the world.”

The Hebrews began with great faith, but this faith was weakened due to consistent anguish and distress. The writer of Hebrews wrote “recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings” (Hebrews 10 v. 32). Similar wording was used in Hebrews 6 v. 4. Enlightened—photizo, in Greek, refers to a pillar of fire, such as the light, which illuminated the way for the Israelites (Nehemiah 9 v. 12, 19; Psalm 105 v. 39). However, in the New Covenant, the author of Hebrews points to the illumination of the gospel and unanimity of the people, to describe this word.

Today, anguish and distress based on worldly structures are quite prevalent. Such as what is described in Hebrews 10 v. 33, Christians experience verbal abuse, reproach, and many heart-felt afflictions in our attempts to share the Good News! But we must never fail to remember that God is the only one who rewards (Hebrews 10 v. 35). We must never shrink back (Heb. 10 v. 38, also see Hab. 2 v. 3-4). For instead, we persevere!

E.M. Bounds reminds us that:

“Everywhere, in the approaches of the people to Him, our Lord put trust in Him, and the divinity of His mission, in the forefront. He gave no definition of trust, and He furnishes no theological discussion of, or analysis of it; for He knew that men would see what faith was by what faith did; and from its free exercise trust grew up, spontaneously, in His presence” (pg. 18).

Friends, let’s remember to offer supreme prayerfulness in our daily lives and to likewise, benefit the lives of others. Longings herald prayer. Prayer nurtures trust, fosters faith, and grounds hope. In addition, prayer provides an opportunity to thank God for His everlasting goodness and mercy. No matter how “poor in spirit” we become, hearts are often renewed through consistent prayer and supplication.

Happiest of Easter to you and to yours.

In Him,

Charlotte

Sources:

Bounds, E. M. (1929; 2018). The necessity of prayer. The New Christian Classics (pg. 18).

Chrysostom, J. St. (403-404). Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews. Homily 22, Retrieved from CHURCH FATHERS: Homily 22 on Hebrews (Chrysostom) (newadvent.org)

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.