Trusting Faith

Mark 11:22–25 (NASB 95)

22 And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. 25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.

Explain / Examine

The Triumphal Entry, to cursing the tree, driving out the money changers, seeing the withered fig tree and the faith of moving mountains, to authority questioned. Looking in from a religious leader, do they see a threat to their way of life? Did the Romans see an uprising or a rebellion? Did the Jewish people see the hope for something better? If the fig tree from the Old Testament represents the Jewish people’s failure in their pursuit of God, what would the disciples get from the lesson? Faith requires trust that produces hope?

How do I apply this to my life?

Where is my faith placed? Do I put my faith in Jesus? Or do I put my faith in the blessing I want to receive from God? Do I trust the dollars I receive from the job placed in my bank account weekly? And those dollars are trusted to pay my bills, buy my family food, and get me gas to go to my job so I can make money? Do I trust my spouse more than God to be there for me? Do I impose an “always there, never forsaking” on someone who could never meet those standards? Do I misplace my trust in believing that she will be my savior from loneliness? Do I find my significance in those around me more than the one who saves me? Where do I place my trust? Do I have faith in the unseen? Better yet, do I see what God has done and believe He will keep doing it and will do it again? Do I believe He will do those things for me? He has placed me in a specific time and place for His good purpose! Is my life going to be easy? No! Am I going to get all the things I believe and pray for? Do those prayers align with God’s will, purpose, and plan? How do I know if they do or don’t? Is that what it means to trust and have faith? To know that God is still good and perfect, He will still save and forgive me, even though my life is and can be challenging! When I don’t get my way, God is good! When I can’t find peace, He is peace! When I hurt and ache over a loss, Jesus suffered the wrath due to me! How often do I think about these things? Do I think about my faith in God? Am I self-aware about my trust, and can I spot when I am placed in something other than Jesus?

What is my response?

Father, I trust you! Please help me to see when I don’t! Put your finger on my soul when I start believing more in the thing of this world than You. Let me be receptive to every way the Holy Spirit speaks to me. Through your Word, thoughts are given to other people in my life. I need to get the things in my way to move to see Your face. Sin keeps me from You. A prideful heart, a selfish man, and missing humility cloud my sight. They plug my ears from hearing. Those who have ears let them hear. I want to hear You. I want to see You move. I need to pursue You everywhere that I am and everywhere that I go, for You are always with me. You are my provider. I place my faith in the true Almighty God. I place my trust in my heavenly father. I pray that it stays there and does not waver, that I am steadfast to my last breath. Amen.