DO YOU BELIEVE GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS?

Little or big, everything we face, every problem we must deal with, are opportunities to trust that our Lord will see us through.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES                    by Sally Bair

Doubt 

I recently watched a video of a polar bear cub that looked reluctant about jumping off the ice floe and following its mom through the water. Encouraged by the parent, it finally plunged in.

We, too, may hesitate to take on a new experience, believing it’s beyond our expertise or ability, impossible to attain. Some people are skeptical even though they see the proof of success. Others claim to believe but  insist on seeing “one more proof.”

The Bible is filled with accounts of doubting faith, which is a contradiction of terms. In fact, many of us struggle with doubts about God. The Israelites, while witnessing miracle after miracle, doubted He was the only true God. The Pharisees, strong believers in God, doubted the existence of His Son. We too may find it hard to believe God will keep us safe … heal us … restore a relationship … provide for our needs. Yet we profess to believe in God as our Savior, our King, our Helper. Because we can’t see Him, we doubt and look to tangible things to save us, guide us, and help us.

When a royal officer heard that Jesus was in the neighborhood, he went to Him, begging Him to go to his home where Jesus could heal his dying son. “Go your way; your son lives,” Jesus told him. (John 4:50) Believing Jesus, the man started for home. On his way, he met his servants who relayed the good news of his son’s recovery. After asking the exact hour of his son’s healing and told it happened at the hour Jesus spoke, the man believed.

How strong was the man’s belief in Jesus? He likely believed Jesus did heal, after hearing about all His miracles, but believed it had to be done in person. Imagine his surprise when Jesus told him the boy would recover without having been touched by Jesus! How strong was his belief? He wanted proof, as spoken by his servants. Then he believed in full.

We can believe in God’s supremacy without “seeing” Him. His Word is enough to remove doubt and bring us to faith in Him. His Spirit also quickens us to believe, as do His works.

“Have faith in God … whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” (Mark 11:22-23)

Lord, thank You for Your encouraging Word. Let us not doubt, like the polar bear cub, but let us trust You in everything. In Jesus’ name, amen.