James 1:2-6

Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom, if you want to know what God really wants you to do; ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

When it says, “But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” I was reading that this morning, and it stood out, just like the first flower in a dead field after a brutal winter. It was bright, it was shining, it had something to say.

I think often times when we pray, we aren’t truly expecting God to answer it. We are just praying because that’s the “norm” for Christians to do, Correct? But do we really expect him to intervene in our situations? Do we really expect him to miraculously heal our loved one with stage 4 cancer? Do we really expect him to heal a relationship that is so broken, all you can do is give up? Do we really expect him to give us the raise we’ve been needing, in order to pay the bills? Do we really expect him to tell us exactly what he wants us to do in our lives? Our calling.

Well, if we are praying for these things, but not truly expecting him to answer it, because it’s the “Impossible” correct? What kind of faith is that? I’ll tell you right now, it’s a weak one. And I sadly have to say, I’ve had that kind of faith before. It wasn’t until he answered the “Unanswerable” that my faith was strengthened.

I want to come to the place in my life where I blindly trust God. Where he can “metaphorically” put a blindfold on me, while I’m standing near a cliff, and saying, “Now walk”. Trusting my Lord and Savior, that He will not let me fall. If I’ve learned anything in my short 18 years of being on this earth, it’s that most of my strength has been developed from the “fire and testing” kind of situations. The circumstances in which I turned to God and said, “Hey dad, where are we going?” “Are we there yet? Because I sure am tired,” and he responds with, “Son, hold tight. The waiting and long road, will be worth the sights and wonders you are about to experience.”

There are many times in life I think we are like kids in a car on a road trip, we continually keep asking “Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” We just want to get to where we are going, because we are tired of simply “going”. But once not that long ago, God so gently reminded me that life is a the whole process of the “going” Yes, there will be sights to see along the way, experiences, callings, stops along the way for a purpose. But we won’t “be there” Until the day of the Lord. The day we stand before him, face to face, and we hear those beautiful words we’ve been waiting for, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Wow, how rewarding that will be. It makes it seem as if the journey was so short compared to the joy, love, compassion we experience when he says those 7 words.

I've made changes in my life lately, out of faith; taking the step, even when I don't see the whole staircase. This new way of life, is fun, it's a little scary I'll have to admit, but seeing God orchestrate beautiful things, is very exciting.

So have faith, believe he will answer your prayers. Believe he will heal that broken relationship, believe he will heal your loved one of cancer, believe you’ll get that job or raise you’ve been needing, believe God has the perfect someone waiting for you in his timing.

Life is a journey, enjoy the ride, change lives on the way, show more love, grace, compassion, share peace, and joy. Just let go, and blindly trust him that he won’t let you fall off the cliff.