Unselfish Faith

Faith is not believing God will heal us and bring us through. Faith is not thinking He will say yes to our prayer requests. Faith is not knowing that our *own* victory is just around the corner. Faith is not believing God is going to heal,save,deliver and bless. In fact Im starting to think faith is the exact opposite.

Perhaps faith is knowing that things will not be *ok*. God may indeed choose to allow suffering. He may take my loved one. God may never deliver me from this besetting sin. God may give me chronic pain. God may use tremendous suffering as the agent that brings His will to pass.....and yet God is still in control. His kingdom is coming and it hurts.

Life is hard and it may get worse. We may never *enter in* and yet He is in control. He is ultimately victorious. He is working out His will not mine. His pleasure may not please me at all. In fact Im pretty sure that things that please Him often seemingly hurt me. Faith is resisting the self centered prayers and aspirations that cushion my life. Faith is enduring the Cross even though we, like Him, despise it.

Now thats faith.

Hebrew 11:13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.