God's serious about His promises. The question is, are we?

There are few things that please God more than us choosing to place our faith in Him. I’ve recently been learning with fresh eyes what this looks like as I walk through some challenging situations in my life. Situations that give me options as to where I put my trust, expectancy and hope.

The Lord has probably been speaking to me about faith more loudly than ever before in these last few weeks. While I’ve been keen to listen, I have also found myself asking Him, “God, in this particular situation what should my faith look like? How can I believe for this?”

He recently showed me with startling clarity exactly what faith looks like, by pointing out to me a decision I’d made that had demonstrated faith, but not faith in Him.

After visiting a travel clinic to get my jabs updated for this year’s travels to Brazil and Africa I was recommended by the nurse to also get the Tdap vaccine. The nurse explained this was to protect against me potentially passing on the oftentimes fatal pertussis virus to any babies I might have contact with. I wasn’t against having it, and agreed with her recommendation. Following the vaccine I had a solid sense of relief and confidence that due to this vaccine I would know no longer be a danger to any unsuspecting youngster.

While asking the Lord about what faith should look or feel like, His response startled me. “You just did it” He spoke, “When you had that vaccine and that sense of relief filled your heart and mind – that’s faith. It’s exactly the same, whether you put it in me, or in a vaccine, or in anything else.” You see I had an expectancy that because of the vaccine’s presence in my body I, and therefore those around me, were protected from this harmful sickness. The truth is of course that I am protected not because of a vaccine, but because of my positioning with Christ where “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2. That Spirit of life, by it’s very nature, means no sickness! Can you see the difference? I have to activate that promise by believing it, and how can I be believing it fully if I have more faith in a vaccine than in the Word of God?

I realize there’s no substitute for faith in God, and no shortcuts. The choices I make need to be guided by His word, because that’s the greatest faith builder of all. There are times when I wish it was easier, or I wish I had answers ahead of time – after all wouldn’t that take the risk out of faith? – but the truth is, I’m glad faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). If it was anything else I’d be missing out on truly knowing God’s nature.

Through His Word I have absolute security that He is who He says He is, and because He cannot lie, I can depend totally on Him, both for the things I can see and touch, and for the things I can’t.

Let me share with you some of the scriptures that I am building with to make sure it’s Him I’m trusting:

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Luke 1:37
For with God nothing will be impossible.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

1 Thessalonians 5:24
He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Romans 4:20, 21
[Your name] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.