Our Stories
Focusing on ... ?
By Kelly Humphreys | posted 11/05/2009
"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'" (Luke 17:5)
"'If you can?'" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23-24)
"But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision or uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." (Galatians 5:5-6)
God values faith very highly. Perhaps it is because He knows that we so often walk by sight and not by faith, that we judge the tenor of our lives by the circumstances we walk in. He also knows that He works in us and through us much more effectively when we are trusting in Him. (And how can we help and love the hurting world around us if we don't have faith in the Giver of all good things?)
Whatever the reason, the Bible portrays the faith of people toward God as significant. Whether in the Old Testament with Abraham's faith and obedience or in the New Testament with the Hall of Faith chapter (Hebrews 11), or in the passages listed above, faith is shown as a way to be closer to God and His purposes. Over the years I have asked God to increase my faith, to help me overcome my unbelief, to shore up my attitude especially when circumstances in my life would go awry. However, when I have focused on my faith, I have usually come up short.
A few months ago, when we moved to Redmond, Washington, we moved to a place near a big park with a labyrinth of horse trails, hiking and biking trails, which can be confusing to anyone new to the park, especially to one who doesn't know the names of the trails. A few days after moving in, I set out to explore the trails alone with our two dogs. I went all over the park, every once in a while coming to a paved road, at which I would just take the next unpaved trail. Eventually I decided to start heading home. The problem was, I wasn't sure what direction that was. I wasn't worried, but I was ready to end this long walk. I came to a crossroads and went straight, and then came across yet another paved road. I decided that I was at the wrong place and made a U-turn onto another path and looped around again. A long time later, I came to the same place and this time decided to go out to the road and, if I had to, to call my husband to come pick me up. I was tired. Lo and behold, it was the road next to my house. In fact, if I had looked up while doing the U-turn, I would have seen my home right there! To gain the right perspective, all I would have had to do was to look up.
My faith will grow naturally as my focus goes from myself to Whom I have faith in. In contemplating the object rather than the action, I see God. God is amazing, loving and grace-filled, Creator of the Universe, yet personal and inviting. He is worth surrendering my entire attitude to. The more I contemplate Him and the knowledge that He is more important than my circumstances, the more I trust Him. He is higher than anything in my life, good or bad. I need to look up and the rest of it will be in perspective.
It's all a matter of perspective. What can we do in our journeys this week to look up, to focus on His greatness and not as much on our own successes and failures?
Kelly can be reached via email.
