Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

If you think about it, we put faith in so many things every day. We have faith that our alarm clock is gonna wake us up. We have faith that when we turn the key in the ignition, our car will start. We have faith that those we love are gonna be there for us and our relationships will grow and flourish. But we all know that sometimes life doesn’t turn out like we hope. Sometimes the alarm clock malfunctions and we’re late. Sometimes the car just won’t start and sometimes, those we love the most, hurt and disappoint us. If we put our faith in the things or people of this world, our hopes may never be realized. The things of this world are temporary, they are passing away, and people… well, we are all sinners, just give us time and we will all eventually fall short. But there is One in whom we can put our faith, knowing He will never fail, He will never fall short and He will never disappoint. That One is Jesus Christ.

When we put our faith in something or someone, we are hoping to get something in return. Maybe it is something tangible that we can hold in our hands or maybe it’s something altogether different like acceptance, love, joy, provision, deliverance… The Bible says “we don’t hope for things we already have, we hope for things unseen“, (Romans 8:24-25), it also says we are to “wait for it patiently“. That is the hard part.

There are several things for which I am praying that I still do not have. Time after time I ask God to do these things, to give me these things, and over and over, He still doesn’t do it. Why? “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15) I ask, I know He hears, so why don’t I have it? My honest answer is, I don’t know. I do know that in that verse nor anywhere else in the Bible, does it say that I will have it immediately.

God uses the time of waiting to strengthen our faith, to draw us closer to Himself. It is easy to praise God, to trust God, to have faith in God, when He gives us what we ask for. But what about when He doesn’t? Do I still praise Him? Do I still trust Him to give me what I need? Do I still have faith that He will provide when things seem to be falling apart? If I am honest, there are times when I don’t. There are times when Satan gets in my head and causes me to question and doubt my God. Satan says, “If He really loves you, why doesn’t He give you this? If He is really as powerful as He claims to be, why doesn’t He fix this for you?” God is ok with our questions and doubts, He expects that from us, He remembers that we are from dust. But the Bible says, “Even if we are faithless, He is faithful.” (2 Timothy 2:13) Over the last couple of weeks, Satan has really tried to take my eyes off Jesus Christ. He is trying so hard to make me focus on the fear, doubt and anxiety that surround my circumstances. I have been under attack. But my God is so good and He knows the strategies of the devil. He knew I needed assurance, He knew I needed reminding of who I belong to. So God gave me these very familiar verses ” Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23) It’s as if God said, “Jennifer, don’t you listen to the devil. You know that I am faithful. Look back at how far I have brought you. Look back and remember all the times in the past when I showed up and provided exactly what you needed at exactly the right time….and get ready because I’m gonna do it again.”

All throughout the Bible, God promises to give us what we need, not necessarily what we want. There are times when I am so focused on my wants that I forget the only thing I really need is Him. As He makes me wait, He uses that time to remind me of how good He is, how faithful He is. He reminds me that He is my hope. And when I have Him, nothing else really matters because it all pales in comparison to the Glory of my God.

So I keep on asking, I keep on seeking, I keep on knocking…knowing, trusting and believing that my God will answer, give and open the door at the perfect time. He is just that faithful.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. Hebrews 10:35