simple faith

Our daughter, Mikaela, came home the other day just buzzing at what God had done for her.  In a powerful, supernatural way He had spoken to her during a chapel at CBC – and in a way she had never experienced before.  Just the previous night, she had cried out to Him and He answered within…about twelve hours.  I sat with tears as she shared her heart, so thankful to our Heavenly Father for His glorious acts of grace in our lives.

The question did arise though, out of the ‘glory’ of the moment:  “Why doesn’t or hasn’t God spoken like this to her before?”  Good question.  Then again, I knew the answer (as any dad does); and it all boils down to simple faith.

If God answered us every time in such succinct, timely manner, where would the need for faith be?  Instead, I explained, most of my spiritual life has been spent walking a rather ‘quiet’ walk of faith; staying in His Word, seeking to be attentive to His leading and stepping out in obedient faith.  Along the way, He has shown Himself powerful many times, such as Mikaela’s moment in chapel.  Yet, it hasn’t been the norm.  No, daily walking, faithful following, one step at a time-faith has been the usual for my…and I believe, most others’ experience with God.

A reflection of this is found in Hebrews’ wonderful chapter of faith, chapter 11.  The surrounding details aren’t given as Abel sacrificed and Noah built and Abraham went and Moses obeyed.  I have a suspicion though, that while we read in the Old Testament some powerful moments of God’s direct dealing with such people, all those Faith-Heroes of Hebrews 11 had plenty of moments (or years) of just plain ‘ol simple faith.

I wish God would ‘rend the heavens’ more often and come down and speak clearly to us all.  Yet, I’m willing to walk in simple faith and let Him surprise me from time to time.  How about you?  (2 Corinthians 5:7)