faith — Devotions — Kristine Brown, Author

Let’s begin this week’s devotion by encouraging our hearts with one of my favorite verses. 2 Corinthians 5:7 reads, “For we live by believing, and not by seeing.”

The NKJV of the verse puts it this way:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

There are some days, though, when I don’t feel like I’m walking by faith at all. Days when I’m searching for that faith I know is real, that I know I need. What do you do when you lack faith? Most of the time I’m able to hold onto God, even though I can’t physically see Him. But when trials come, my ability to stay faith-filled is tested.

How can I strengthen my weak faith?

God knew we would have these moments, and He gave us help in His Word to encourage us when weakness threatens the trust we have in Him. Great men and women throughout history had times when their faith waned. And from their stories, we can find the help we need to restore ours.

These 3 words will help us when our faith is weak.

For you said...

“Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’ In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.” Numbers 14:17-19 NLT

In this passage, the Israelites were (once again) complaining and wanting to turn around and return to Egypt. The Lord’s anger rose against them, but Moses intervened. He reminded himself, and the Lord, of His promises.

What do you do when you lack faith?

We all experience those times when we don’t see how God could possibly work things out.

Our minds swirl with thoughts like…

I don’t know how anything good can come from this.

How could God allow this to happen?

How are we going to get through this?

Some days we will feel weak in our faith. We will struggle to trust God in our circumstances.

Let’s not fall prey to the lie that says if we are good Christians, we won’t experience days of weak faith. We will, and that’s okay. For it’s in those days we learn to rely on Him more than ever before.

My weakness in faith reminds me to renew my trust in God’s strength.

For you said, I am your chosen child.

For you said, you will never leave me.

For you said, you will guide and protect me.

God’s Word promises, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). So we can rely on His strength even more when our faith is weak. Let’s remind ourselves of His unfailing love today by starting with these 3 words. For you said...

I share more about applying the truth of these verses to our moments of doubt in chapter 6 of my new book, Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God, including this passage below:

“Even though the Israelites refused to accept the promise God offered, that didn’t stop a faithful few from praying. Aaron and Moses cried out to their Lord what they new to be true… Although it looked as if the plan was delayed, the leaders continued to live as if God wouldn’t fail.” - Cinched book

To find out more about the Cinched book, visit the book page here.

Will God Answer My Prayer?

When we look at another woman and see God working mightily in her life, we may be tempted to question whether He’s forgotten us. Does He care? Is He even hearing me when I pray?

Hagar knew what it was like to question God’s presence in her life, but He hadn’t forgotten. In fact, Sarah’s miracle had a direct connection to the miracle He had planned for Hagar. I love how God connects us all! We may not be able to see it, but God always has everything worked out for our ultimate good.

Hagar often gets overlooked because of her role as a simple servant to Sarah. But when we see Hagar as a mom wanting the best for her child, we can relate to her plea when she didn’t want to see her son suffering.

In the middle of the desert, Hagar cried out to God. They were alone, out of water, and void of any hope for their situation to change. But God saw Hagar and heard Ishmael’s cries (Genesis 21:17).

God provided exactly what Hagar and Ishmael needed.

Hagar’s story reminds us that in our loneliest times, God still sees us and provides what we need to survive. Hagar experienced the miracle of God’s provision.

If you are needing God to provide in some area of your life today, rest assured. He sees you and is working right now to meet that need. Trust in that today. God is the great Provider.