Many Christians have a common understanding of faith. They believe that if we understand faith, recognize its potential, and align ourselves with God’s will, we are inherently in faith. However, life has demonstrated that our faith doesn’t always manifest the Truth of God’s Word as anticipated. This can leave some believers confused or some even bitter, questioning, “I know I have faith. Why doesn’t it work?”
Questioning why faith doesn’t work suggests an underlying issue: faith is not a stand-alone principle or belief system that can be called upon at will. For believers, faith is the manifestation of their relationship with the Father, not a principle or belief system lacking fellowship with Him.
“Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, 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 11:23-24)
Looking at these verses, we see that our faith must be in God, not in principles, rules, or even our renewed minds. Paul said, “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12). Faith is a realization of trust, confidence, and assurance in God. We can only know God confidently with the deepest trust and assurance when we are in fellowship with Him. Mark goes on to say that in the realm of faith, we cannot doubt, but believe from the heart. This is where we often miss it. We are trying to believe with our minds or with our emotions, but maybe we aren’t believing from the heart.
“For with the heart one believes…” (Romans 10:10). Faith is of the heart, not the head. It is spiritual, not mental. It is called the “spirit of faith” in 2 Corinthians 4:13, and the spirit of faith speaks from the heart with no doubt.
We often speak to our needs and circumstances, but are we doubting? If something is not happening, is it God’s fault, or is it our lack of faith? Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Perhaps, we are trying to bring to Life something apart from “hearing Him.” Jesus could only do what He saw and heard from the Father. We can never improve on that which we witness and hear in fellowship with the Father.
Never give up on your promise. Abraham didn’t waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith (Romans 4:20). If your promise is only in your mind and not sown and conceived in your heart, that promise will receive the brunt of your doubt. Faith speaks from the heart, not from the mind. The manifestation of your promise is never something that happens by just believing it with your mind, will and emotions. It is born of faith and receives Life in fellowship with the Father.
Yes, never give up on your promise, but being consumed with receiving it will keep you obsessed on your promise instead of your relationship with the Lord. Your promise is not something to be gained; it is something that is inherent in your relationship with Him and manifests in fellowship with Him. The Father has never left or forsaken you. If you seek Him, you will find Him (Matthew 7:8).
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