"If you can believe, all things are possible
to him who believes."
Mark 9:23
A chaplain spoke to a hospital patient. She was facing life-threatening surgery. The patient requested the chaplain to pray for her. He was glad to do so. Before he left her room, he asked, "Are you a believer in Jesus Christ?" She said, "I would like to be, but I must be honest, I have too many doubts to say I believe." Then, the chaplain said, "Let me put it another way. Are you willing to believe?" She said, "Oh yes. I just don't know what to do with all my doubts." The chaplain suggested that she give her doubts to the Lord in prayer. He led her in a prayer to give her doubts to God and receive His faith. The lady came through her surgery. More than that, she left the hospital with a strong faith in God.
We must understand the nature of genuine faith. It is a gift from God. Faith is one of the three abiding gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 13:13). It does no good to pretend that we have faith. Genuine faith is a gift of God's grace.
How do we receive faith? It comes from the word of God through the Son of God, as a gift of the Spirit of God. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
How do we receive faith? It comes from the word of God through the Son of God, as a gift of the Spirit of God. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
Do you wrestle with doubts? Is it hard to say that you really have genuine faith? Give up your struggle. Look to Jesus through His word. Admit your inability and ask for God's grace to believe. When the faith of God enlightens our hearts, the darkness of doubt and unbelief is dismissed. "If you can believe," give God the glory for His grace to receive.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the grace to believe.
