Have you ever seen God work powerfully in your life? Has He ever done something for you that genuinely convinced you He’s absolutely real? We’re all different, so what might convince me may not convince you–but that’s okay, because He knows exactly what it is that will prove His existence and power to each and every one of us–and He graciously meets us at our point of need!
“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord: ‘I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my father’s God, and I will exalt him!'” (Exodus 15:1-2 NLT)
God may not have hurled the enemy’s horse and riders into the sea for you as He did for the fleeing Israelites quoted above, but we all have something that proves to each of us–that convinces us of–God’s magnificence, and that is what He, in His infinite mercy, does for those who trust in Him: He strengthens our faith, especially when we ask.
He is not obligated to. In fact, we are taught not to provoke God–to not test Him. We mustn’t set up circumstances–hoops for Him to figuratively jump through–to convince us He is real. Yet when we trust in Him, He helps us trust Him even more.
How? Through whatever way will help you believe more! It may certainly be physical deliverance like it was for the Israelites; it may be healing, or an answer to prayer–a job, perhaps, or grade, or whatever else will convince you. For me it’s getting protection plan sales. I sell, and my job is dependent, at least in part, on how many protection plans I sell. So I’ve actually started asking God for success in this area. I know–“you’re just getting better at selling them,” you might say; but who helps me get better? And curiously, I’ve noticed that when I believe He’s going to help me, I sell; when I start doubting–like when Peter was walking on the water, and got scared and doubted Jesus–I start messing up. It’s not my faith in my ability to sell that gives me sales; it’s my faith in the provision and graciousness of God!
Yet this is not a side show or curiosity. God works miracles–even the quiet ones no one else might realize are miracles–for the specific purpose of helping believe. Remember Herod’s excitement at having Jesus brought to him? How he had heard the amazing things Jesus had done and was hoping to finally witness something himself–yet got nothing? God performs miracles if they will help us believe; if they would be merely a curiosity and not lead us to repentance or greater faith, we get nothing, because they would be wasted on us.
Remember Jesus admonition “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6 NIV)? It’s the same principle This is why there are so few miracles reported here in the modern world. I am totally convinced God does still work miracles–just not for those for whom they would be meaningless. He saves His works–His miracles–for those whose faith will be strengthened by them.
Dear Lord God,
Thank You that You care about us and are gracious to strengthen our faith. Thank You that You are, indeed, a God of power and night and that nothing is too difficult for You, as You declare in Your Word, the Bible! Amen.
