Faith does not mean trusting God to stop the storm but trusting Him to strengthen us as we walk through the storm. -anonymous
Have you ever prepared for a trip either going to the beach, fishing or perhaps kayaking, and when you get there realize you forgot something you needed? What about an expectation you had for an outcome that did not turn out at all the way you desired? Our expectations and outcomes are driven by faith; hoping that what we really desire will turn out the way we expect. The desire for a certain outcome in interactions with family, attaining dreams, goals and during urgent circumstances can be so pressing that we wish it could appear like a magic trick, the rabbit coming out of a hat. We have all been there. The quest to remain faithful while we wait isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Do we believe that victory will be achieved in the end? What about the vices that hold us back; do we believe they will be destroyed and freedom will eventually take place? The real question is do you have the patience and strength to wait for the dawn that will bring what you are hoping for? Are you willing to endure the ridicule from the haters that doubt what you have faith in? Do you believe God is working in your favor and not sitting back on a couch in heaven just looking down on you? If you believe, then let’s go! Go get your fishing rod and fish out your faith today.
I have a saying I love to repeat with my family during times when we must be patient on waiting for direction from the Lord, “while we wait, we create.” Just because we don’t know the destination yet, it should not impede us from taking the necessary steps to move towards it. In Hebrews 11:6-12, we find several examples of men and women who believed by faith what God had promised them.
And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed, and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.4
As we unpack the verses note the action steps, we must all commit to: (1) believing God exists and (2) have a willingness to seek Him. Faith is in action when we trust in the existence that God is in control. Our faith is amplified during our seeking of who God is and not what He provides. So many have been misdirected because the emphasis of faith and adoration has been on the creation and not the creator. For example, daily healing in my marriage and the role as a husband blossomed when I gave God total control and surrendered my wife unto Him. My action step of faith occurred when I surrendered my intention to change my wife and allowed God to change me instead. I wish I would have taken the road less traveled because the individual who needed to change was staring back at me in the mirror. Note the difference, faith is enacted when we trust the creator and obey moving towards His purpose.
Noah trusted the Lord for the safety of his family and built an ark when he never experienced rain. Regardless of the ridicule he kept building. Similarly, Abraham stepped into a journey of the unknown seeking his inheritance in a land that was unclear. As a result of his obedience he left a legacy for his children and future generations that still stands today. Sarah’s faith coincides with believing the impossible to give birth to a son past child-bearing age. God’s seeds of promises don’t have an expiration date when we choose to have the faith to believe.
What action plan do you have to spark your flame of faith? Are you willing to believe God is preparing you for the new season of your life, for the new business he has intended for you to create? Are you ready to create your first podcast or write your first book to share your story with the world? Can you pick up your fishing rod and cast it where people say no bass or salmon exist? Can you look past your age to know that God doesn’t have limits to the seeds He has placed in you to bring forth great fruit to the world?
Also keep in mind, God’s timing and ours are totally different. I am learning more each day that He truly knows best. In Romans 12:8 Paul shares, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”5 God has your time perfectly worked out. Perhaps like Esther, “for such a time as this you were born,” to bring your gifts to the world.6 Finally, hold on to God’s promise for you, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”7
Today as you stand by the watering hole for what you desire in life, enjoy His presence as you wait for the tug on your fishing rod.
Dive Deeper:
- What are you hoping for that seems like it’s taking forever to come to pass?
- What do you believe it means to have faith?
- Why is it important to act as you wait in faith?
- What example stood out to you in your quest to fish out your faith?
