How many steps of faith will you take in a day? Probably more than you realize. When it comes right down to it every human being is full of faith. Question is, what is it that we put our faith in? Trust me, you’re going to put your faith into a lot of things before this day is over. The definition of faith as found in the English dictionary is “A complete trust or confidence in someone or something.”
You will, beyond a doubt place your complete trust and confidence in things and people today. When I got up this morning I walked into the kitchen and flipped a light switch. I had complete trust and confidence that the room would be illuminated from the bulbs in the fixture on the ceiling. I wasn’t disappointed. I poured water into my coffee pot and flipped the switch, faithful that the sweet aroma of my addiction would soon fill the air. It did. I walked into my office, pulled my chair out from the desk and sat down confident that it wouldn’t collapse under my weight. It didn’t. Later I’ll drive to town and at some point I will come to a green light and I will drive through the intersection placing my faith in the people coming the other way that they will stop. And the list goes on and on.
Getting on a plane to go on a trip? You’re placing your faith in the pilot and the ground crew that works on the plane. Getting on a roller coaster at an amusement park? You’re placing your faith in the engineers that designed the ride and the 15-year-old kid that’s operating it. Going in for a medical procedure or to have your oil changed in your car? You’re putting your faith in the person that’s doing the work.
See what I’m talking about? We are faith filled people, putting our trust and confidence in so many things every day. But when it comes to the Lord, sometimes our faith can get a little bit wabbly. I mean, placing our faith in something that we can’t see or touch? How does that work? (Never mind that we seldom see the pilot in the cockpit, the engineer that designed the ride, the electrical currents running through the lines from the switch to the bulb, or the carpenter that built the chair, yet we still trust that all those things will do what they promise.)
Wouldn’t we be well served to place as much faith in the one that created the universe as we do the one who drives our uber? To have that complete trust and confidence in Him? The bible has a little different definition of faith than the English dictionary, it says:
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
(Hebrews 11:1)
Our faith is an anchor that holds us steady. As the author of Hebrews wrote earlier in the letter:
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
(Hebrews 6:19)
Firm and secure. You can’t see an anchor when it’s in use. It’s far beneath the depths holding everything secure. You just know it’s there.
I read an interesting article this week about icebergs. Large icebergs can sometimes move in a direction opposite of the way the wind is blowing. The wind can be blowing strong to the south and the iceberg is moving north. Well, that doesn’t seem to make any sense! Seems the iceberg would be blown wherever the wind would send it. But icebergs aren’t sailboats that are moved by the wind, they’re moved by ocean currents. And the thing about icebergs is, 80% of them are under water. Hence the old saying, “Just the tip of the iceberg” The strong ocean currents under the water that can’t be seen are moving that iceberg against the wind.
When we live a life that rich with faith in God He is directing our path, no matter how hard the wind is blowing against us. The bible is filled with stories of people who were in the storms of life with all the winds blowing against them who had faith. Here is one of my absolute favorites.
In the book of Mark there is a woman who has been subject to a terrible illness for 12 years. She had tried everything known at the time, but nothing could be done. For 12 years she suffered the winds of life blowing against her. Until one day when Jesus came to town. She had heard about Him and believed that He could help. Pushing her way through the crowd she thought,
“If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
(Mark 5:28)
She’s launching a sneak attack for healing. No need to disturb Him, just touch His cloak and I’ll be OK. And that’s what she does, she works her way through the crowd, coming up behind him she reaches out and lightly touches the edge of His cloak. Probably barely a whisper with the tip of her finger. But that’s all it took, immediately she’s healed. And Jesus knows. With all of the people pushing and shoving and trying to get close to Jesus, many in the crowd reaching out, touching him, but when this whisper of that touch on the edge of His cloak happens, He stops…
“Who touched my clothes?”
“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?'”
(Mark 5:30-31)
You’ve got to love those disciples, pointing out to Jesus that He’s asking a ridiculous question. But Jesus knows the one that’s been fighting against the wind for 12 years has let her faith lead her there.
‘Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
(Mark 5:33-34)
She walked away from there whole. Not just physically but spiritually. She was anchored to the hope and certainty of what she couldn’t see. No matter what the winds of life were doing, she let Jesus direct her path.
So, think about your faith today. What you place your faith in and if you’re placing that much faith in the creator of the universe. Trust Him, He really does have this all under control.
“The righteous will live by faith.”
(Romans 1:17)