Moving Clouds by Catherine Weiskopf
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21: 21-22 NIV)
Last night my 14 year-old soccer playing boy prayed for a cloud so he wouldn’t wilt on the soccer field at 1:00 p.m. in the Texas 100 degree heat. The next morning I awoke to a sky covered from horizon to horizon. A big treat for a Texas summer morning. As I thanked God for the clouds, doubt wormed its way into my heart,
“Will this continue until 1:00 or is it just a fluke?”
“Does God really care about Ben’s prayer this much?”
“Is this God’s will for Ben this day?”
I realized then faith has three major components and my faith waxed and waned when I wasn’t 100% on all fronts.
First off, for strong faith I have to be certain God can do it. This is the belief in an all powerful God. Of course God can do it; we would argue this point with anyone. But do we really know it with a capital K?
If you struggle with what God can do so did the apostles. The Bible is full of the apostles continually being struck by Jesus doing a miracle above and beyond what they thought He was capable of: calming the storm, feeding the multitudes, healing the sick, raising the dead, walking on water, leaving the grave behind. With each new miracle their idea of who Jesus is and what he can do expanded.
Second, I have to believe God wants to do it for me. This is a question of “Do I think God would go out of His way to answer one of my prayers?” Often, this is where faith breaks down. I remember my Uncle David asking my mom to pray for his sick wife. My mom said, “You can pray too,” which he scoffed at a bit. He clearly didn’t believe God would listen to and answer his prayers. My Mom, in his mind, had more heavenly leverage. This part of faith requires we believe God has a generous love for us.
Third, am I certain God will answer my prayer if it’s best? This is faith in His will. Do I know God’s will is ultimately good and can I rest in it? I struggle most with this as I pray for things in my life I want but I’m not sure qualify as ultimate good: soccer teams for my kids, healing of my anxiety issues, publishing of a book, health and safety. Jesus had ultimate confidence in the father’s will when he prayed in Luke 22:42 Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.
These three components of faith are all different, all building, all necessary components of a deep faith that can really move mountains. We must nourish and build this faith that believes in the powerfulness of God, the love of God for us, and is based on the foundation that His will is and always will be for our ultimate good.
So next time the doubt worms its way its way into my faith, I’ll answer back.
“God can move the clouds.”
“God loves my son enough to change the weather to answer his prayer and if he doesn’t move the clouds, when prayed for, it’s not God’s will and it’s not the best for Ben.” Amen.