A Faith that Leans on God

Well, gracious sakes alive, friend, wander right on over here to this ol’ front porch and park yourself where the cool breeze can get ahold of you real good. Faith can be a mighty peculiar thing. Some mornin’s it feels plum strong enough to pull an ol’ wagon uphill, and other mornin’s it’s a whole lot shakier than a lil’ ol’ newborn calf tryin’ to stand up on slippery, slick boards. But God never asked us to manufacture no mountain-sized confidence. He plum asks us to place whatever faith we have in a mighty big God.

Hebrews 11:1 says faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith ain’t pretendin’ we know exactly what God will do. It’s sho’-nuff’ trustin’ His character when we don’t know what is comin’ our way.

That there sho’-nuff’ matters especially in prayer.

Sometimes we git to thinkin’ faithful prayin’ means marchin’ into heaven with a long ol’ shoppin’ list and expectin’ God to holler, “Coming right up!” But Hebrews 11:6 teaches somethin’ deeper tellin’ us, “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.” That there means that faith believes God is sho’-nuff’ there, God is listenin’, and God responds to those who sincerely seek Him.

Abraham downright understood that kind of trust. Romans 4:20–21 says he “did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief” but was “fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” Abraham’s confidence wasn’t no kind confidence in himself in circumstances. But it was sho’-nuff’ in God.

And when our faith gets plum tired, we can pray like the father in Mark 9:24: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” That there may be one of the most honest prayers in Scripture.

James 1:5–7 reminds us to ask God without livin’ double-minded and tossed around like a lil’ ol’ duck feather in a big thunderstorm.

Father, strengthen my faith when doubt gets noisy. Help me trust Your heart when I can’t see Your hand. Teach me to pray with confidence in Your goodness and surrender to Your wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now, bless your boots, you’ve gotta mosey on off into whatever’s left of your day, friend, and don’t you be lettin’ doubt git to peckin’ holes in your peace like an ol’ woodpecker after breakfast. Faith ain’t about plum knowin’ every bend in the trail. It’s sho’-nuff’ knowin’ the One that’s carryin’ the lantern. Keep right on prayin’, keep right on trustin’, and when your knees git to wobblin’ like a lil’ ol’ colt tryin’ to be walkin’ around in tall grass, remember this: God’s mighty strength ain’t never had to be dependin’ on the steadiness of your strength to git you through, but you can sho’-nuff’ be dependin’ on God.

With joy,

Gwen