WHAT IS FAITH?

PSALMS 34:17-19: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” NKJV

OBSERVATION: What is my concept of faith? When I think of faith my mind recalls the tremendous stories of the men and women of faith found in Hebrews chapter eleven. This chapter reads like the “Who’s – Who” of the Bible!

Yet, this would be a false concept of faith. It would be trying to understand a person’s life by only reading their biography and ignoring all of the life experiences that are omitted from such writings. A biography usually contains all of the glowing highlights of someone’s life and omits the everyday and mundane.

Yet, it is the everyday and mundane that really shows our faith!

How do I act when I am brokenhearted? How do I act when I have just failed? Do I humble myself before the Lord, run to Him with a contrite heart, and seek Him for forgiveness and cleansing? Or, do I try to put on a strong face and pretend that everything is ok? Am I honest with myself and others or do I hide behind my faith?

While the annals of faith include the highest points of the saint’s lives it does not include all of their life experiences. It does not speak about the times of hidden doubt, disobedience, discouragement, and despair. Yet, every man, every woman, in the annals of faith went through all of these experiences.

So, why are they called great men and women of faith?

It is because they did not allow their weaknesses to define them. Rather, they saw their weaknesses as a reminder of their need for God. Their weaknesses became their strength because it was these very weaknesses that kept them trusting in and relying upon God for their strength. They knew that God does not oppose the humble – He welcomes them. A broken and contrite heart He will never dismiss. 

When David writes – “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles,” – He was not speaking of the strong and mighty. He was speaking of those who understood their need for God and trusted in Him alone for their victory and strength. David continues to write – “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

The righteous are the broken hearted, the contrite of spirit – not the strong and mighty!

This is what the Apostle Paul learned through his thorn in the flesh. As he sought the Lord three times for it to be removed he learned that it was through this weakness that he discovered the strength of trusting in Jesus Christ alone!

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2Co 12:8-10 NKJV)

Life is not a rose garden! Yet, for the believer, it is a GARDEN OF GRACE!!

We tend to battle with sadness and depression when we go through difficult times. Yet, this is because we feel like God is far away. After all, if He was close He would do something about our situation – right? Yet, it is in these times that He is the closest to us. He is listening to our prayers. He is comforting us through the Holy Spirit. And, He is planning the victory that He will bring into our lives!

The call of faith is to WAIT!

Faith is not shown by our resolve or our ability to craft a plan for success. Faith is shown by our understanding that when we draw near to God with a humble heart – He draws near to us. When we wait upon the Lord and trust in Him – He lifts us up. When we refuse to craft our own plan – He reveals His plan and guides our steps.

The call of faith is to TRUST!

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalms 34:17-19 NKJV

The call of faith is to PRAY!

Lord, I come to you this morning with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Draw near to me. Hear the cry of my heart. Grant me the grace and faith to WAIT upon and to TRUST You for Your open door of victory. Comfort my heart with the strong assurance that You always hear me and that You always will answer!

In Jesus’ Name!