Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 HCSB)
Imagine an unborn fetus deciding that because he can't see his mother she can't possibly exist. His twin, though, insists that she is all around them, sustaining their lives. He debates him, sure that his twin is deluded. But it’s the cynical baby who’s the delusional one, unaware that he wouldn't even exist if it weren't for his mother. That someday they would breathe the air, see the sky and sun, grow to walk, eat and talk, could seem totally unbelievable because all they know is what they see and feel. A baby refusing to believe in his mother is a funny concept, but isn't that the reasoning of atheists when it comes to the existence of God? Of unbelievers? Or of Christians who rarely use their faith?
We are all in the confines of our tiny bubble of a world. Not just the planet earth, but our personal worlds of experiences, traumas, unfulfilled desires, distorted memories, self-esteem issues and selfish ambitions. We emphatically decide that that is life, and that’s all there is to it—even while believing in God and striving to obey His Word. None of us escapes the limitations of our very small and pitiful human point of view.
Of course God knows all about it, He sent His Son to live on this earth in flesh and blood for thirty-three years. He knows we are imperfect and have a very hard time believing in what we can’t see. But even so, He just wants us to trust that He really does love us, He really does want to bless us, and that He is so real, so close and so crucial to our very existence. We can't afford not to stretch our small minds to believe in the impossible, because the impossible is what is real. That’s what faith is about, and without faith we can't please God.
So His challenge is: imagine the best possible scenario for your life. Not just the superficial things, but the deep meaningful things too. Everything. Then believe that He is able and willing to do more! We're all good daydreamers but the goodness that we can conjure up in our thoughts is nothing compared to the goodness that He creates, and that He wants to create. The connection that’s missing between why we don't see it happen yet, is the exercise of our faith. Faith is in for the long haul, through thick and thin, believing and determining and living and acting in the expectancy that these impossible things will come to pass, just as He has promised. It can even feel foolish, but foolishness for the sake of faith is a good thing.
If you believe and don't see your immediate answer, no problem. The process of believing and believing against any sign of change is the exercise of faith that honors Him so greatly. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean that His promises are false. We are false so many times—He is not.
(If you're interested, this inspiring analogy of the babies was written by a Hungarian writer and can be found here on Bishop Renato Cardoso’s blog.)
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