Do I Lack Faith?

Over the last year and a half I have walked through the darkest valley of my life with my daughter Katelyn’s inoperable brain tumor.  The greatness of so many people who have gone above and beyond during this time is overwhelming and we are oh so grateful.  

During this time, however, some have questioned my faith and why God would ‘do this’ to Katelyn.  Some have questioned why I haven’t believed enough for Katelyn to be healed.  People assume because she is not healed, that we obviously lack faith.  People still tell me today that God will heal Katelyn 100%; I just need ‘more faith!’  I have prayed and I know God is able!  It is not lack of faith!  Sometimes the miracle happens, most of the time it does not!  In both, the question of faith will always arise.

I know during the hardest moments of our lives that our faith is not ‘strengthened’ instantaneously; our faith is ‘released!’  I know during the hardest moments of our lives that our character is not instantaneously ‘built;’ our character is ‘revealed.’  AFTER, and only AFTER, some time has passed, then our faith will be strengthened and our character will be built; IF you allow it.  That faith strengthening and character building is preparation for the next circumstance of your life that you don’t yet see coming!

IF you are going through a difficult situation (financial, health, job, family, tragedy) that hasn’t gotten better, then know these four things: 1. God did not do this to you!  2. Have no fear if your circumstance does not change.  It does not prove you lack faith and it definitely does not prove that God does not love you!  3. When you realize that God is all you have, then you will realize that God is all you have ever needed! 4. Listen!  Slow down each day and listen for the whispers of God in your life!

Romans 8:35; 37–39 (NLT): Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?  Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?... No, despite all these things,   overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,

Chad