God cultivates trusting faith through a process. The man God used to serve as a model of how He cultivates faith was Abraham. Over time God brought Abraham through a series of trials and events whereby his character would be tried and tested. After the trial he would experience the grace of God. Receiving God’s grace would progressively cultivate stronger measures of trusting faith in his heart.
Abraham’s major tests were to prove his willingness to trust and obey God; follow His lead. It was in faith that Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. It was in faith that he believed that he and Sarah could conceive a child after the age of child bearing. It was in faith, that he brought his son, Isaac to be sacrificed, and trusted that God would provide the lamb for a burnt offering. Looking at Abraham’s story, two things become clear: we have the opportunity to hear God speaking to us; and then to respond in faith, trusting God to work out the details.
RELEVANCE
The thing is God never initially gives us the details! I’ve always been intrigued that there is no verse between God’s charge in Genesis 12:3 to leave the place where he was, and Abraham’s action in verse 4. He heard God’s voice, received His instructions by faith, and acted. He didn’t try to rationalize. He left that to God. Such a simple pliable and responsive heart is what God is after.
We see through this simple illustration that requires us to trust with a simple heart of childlike faith to take simple steps of faith, even when we don’t understand the purpose of the assignment or see the big picture. As we are faithful to follow His lead, He brings us to discerning truth and fills in the details. When they come they bring joy to our heart and help us cultivate gratefulness and revere God as we bask in His truly amazing grace.
REFLECT AND RELATE
Has God given you a simple task or challenge recently? What thoughts have gone through your mind to try to figure out the logic or details? As the facts and circumstances don’t seem to add up, try taking simple steps in faith to begin the process.
REFERENCES
Hebrews 11:8-12