Is there ANY Hope?

I almost didn't post this . . . but I've been frustrated lately. Frustrated over faith and hope. Maybe you have been too. I wonder if I'm feeling any of the frustration that Jesus did when He continually had to ask His Disciples, "Where is your faith?" And when He appallingly replied to the Disciples over their lack of faith, "You unbelieving and perverse generation . . . 

how long shall I put up with you?" 

"You have so little faith." 

You see, our family is in desperation. My sister in law's father (Jerry Meyer- PLEASE pray for him) had a brain aneurysm a few months ago and has only been showing minimal progression after surgery. His circumstances are astounding. He was boarding a plane within ten minutes . . . had he boarded, he more than likely would not be with us today. Doctors say the aneurysm was in the most opportune part of the brain. There are no coincidences in this situation. There are too many close calls, too many hurdles that have been overcome. God is in it. He is at work. 

I have prayed over this man from the beginning. I asked God to heal him COMPLETELY. Nothing else would be acceptable. But most of all, I prayed that God would make Himself known to this man who's life influences so many others. I don't know if he knows the Lord, but I want him to. That's the selfish side of my motivations for praying for him. And I want all who know him to believe. I want God to make him a miracle.

But, little progress has been made. I keep hearing the same thing . . . "We're just not seeing it." "It doesn't appear that he's going to get better." So, the other night I took my frustration to God. I stayed up nearly all night, frustrated, asking God, "DOESN"T ANYONE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES???" "Doesn't anyone have the FAITH that moves mountains?" "WHERE IS THE FAITH?" But then it hit me, Christians are truly no different from atheists when we say we are walking by faith, but we're really walking by sight. They judge the physical world by what they "see" and "feel." But Truth says that God works in UNSEEN ways. Only RARELY do we get a glimpse into the sinners heart that God is wooing. Very RARELY are we able to see God at work in  our circumstances, until He decides to make Himself radically known. Does anyone remember the book of Job??? God IS AT WORK behind the scenes of our lives. 

So, I prayed. Asking God, out of my frustration, to do SOMETHING!!!!! And once again, He proved Himself faithful, my sister in law's father SPOKE for the first time, the very next day. 

Coincidence . . . not a chance. 

I asked in faith  . . . and God was faithful to His Word.

Hasn't anyone taken hold of God's Word??? . . .

"Therefore, I tell you,

whatever you ask for in prayer,

believe that you have received it,

and it will be yours."

Mark 11:24

These are JESUS' words. Do we doubt Him? Here's what Truth says about that:

"But he must ask in faith

without any doubting,

for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea,

driven and tossed by the wind.

For that man ought not to expect anything from the Lord,

being double minded, unstable in all his ways."

James 1:6

People believe in probabilities, instead of Promises (of God).

They trust in MEDICINE instead of MIRACLES! 

(we can praise God that we have BOTH!)

God is not faithful to doubt.

God is faithful to our faith in His Word. Period.

I'm praying for my sister in law's dad's FULL recovery. I FIRMLY believe that God is going to answer that prayer. Jesus was upon His knees in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed that His cup be taken away . . . He knew the answer, but He asked anyway . . . He showed the greatest example of praying in faith . . . asking by believing that "if there was another way, God would have made it" . . . yet yielding to the will of God. I'm praying in faith for this man's healing, yet asking God to unleash His perfect will, whatever that might be. (only because I know that He knows best)

I have a SECURE hope. I have REAL hope because Jesus saves.

I am holding FIRMLY to the faith I profess. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

And the God of HOPE fills me with joy and peace
as I trust in Him . . .

my hope overflows. (Romans 15:13)

THAT is Christ in me.

Dear ones, what are you asking God for in your life? Are you expecting Him to be faithful, or are you walking by sight? It makes me cringe to think of the  MIRACLES we have left at the throne of God because we failed to walk forward in faith. 

You see, I don't know about you, but when Jesus looks into my life I want Him to be amazed and say,

"I have not found as great of faith as I've found in you!" (Luke 7:9)

Let us press on, in faith . . . abounding in HOPE

that is only found in Christ.

"That we might not rely on ourselves,

but on God who raises the dead."

(2 Corinthians 1:9)

Amen?! I know I hear it! ; )