Believe God

Hospitals… nice places to visit but no one would want to live in them.  We’ve been at the hospital 10 days now.  Strangely a thought crosses my mind: when all else fails, read the directions.

 I stood for a time this morning in front of a window overlooking rooftops of adjoining sections of the hospital where my husband is now living, at least for now.  It occurs to me that this is yet another place, both real and proverbial, that we never thought we’d be.  

As I looked across the satellite dishes, fans, and other gadgets attached to the flat, graveled roofs, I noted the crosses erected on most of the upright structures.  The reminder of Christ’s presence in the middle of our suffering was soothing.  Then the concerns of the moment returned and I was in the present again, still looking at the crosses.

What constitutes “enough faith” for healing?  Some say if we have enough faith, especially sufficient faith to “receive our healing” then we will certainly be healed.  The insinuation is that if our bodies are not healed after we pray, that we must not have enough faith.  

In Chapter one of Job, we read about a conversation to which Job was not privy.  God and Satan discussed Job.  Perhaps more importantly, God pointed Job out to Satan and literally offered Job up to him.  Once we read through the entire book of Job, we realize that God offered Job to Satan in order that He could give Satan permission to cause Job great destruction and suffering.  God only denied Satan the power to kill Job.  Why did God do this?  ”Poor Job,” we might say, and “Why did God intend that Job suffer?”

Then we learn that God’s intent all along was not that Job suffer needlessly but that God would be shown to be the faithful and sovereign God of those who love Him.  God gave Job the faith Job needed to bear the suffering, not for or against Job, but for God.  Consider this:  how many souls has Job’s story (specifically his suffering–provoked by God) encouraged and strengthen, for God?  Is Job’s story not encouraging you, now?

When all else fails, read the directions.  For the believer, the directions are written in the Bible.  Somewhere in the Scriptures, inspired by the Holy Spirit yet written by man, are the directions for the believers’ life.  So in times of failure, whether in our bodies, our minds, our hearts, and yes–even our faith, we turn to the Directions.  God’s direction in these circumstances are to offer them back to Him so that He may build our and others’ faith, encourage a brother or sister, allow others to truly love and serve us, and praise Him for the circumstance that brings these opportunities.  He is faithful.  Believe God.  And Lord, help our unbelief.