60 Seconds – Have Faith in God

Hudson Taylor, who faced many impossible situations in his work in China, used to say that there were three phases in most great tasks undertaken for God:

“Impossible,

Difficult,

Done.”

In Mark 11:22, Jesus admonished, “Have faith in God.” It is the same word for “faith” we read of in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” One of the words the writer to the Hebrews uses to describe faith is “substance.” The Greek word is made up of the words “to stand” and “under.” It refers to that which stands under, that which is a foundation. Consequently, the meaning of the word indicates that faith is the foundation of things hoped for. It speaks of confidence or faith, which enables us to endure or undertake anything. Archeological evidence indicates that the word “substance” has also been used to indicate “title-deed.” In fact, this verse might be translated, “Now faith is the title-deed of things hoped for.”

St. Augustine stated, “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.” Mother Theresa of Calcutta, India, had a dream. She told her superiors she had three pennies and a dream. They gently chided her and said, “Mother Theresa, you can’t do anything with three pennies.” Mother Theresa said, “I know, but with God and three pennies, I can do anything!” Years later, she was awarded the Noble Peace Prize for her work in Calcutta.

In Mark 9:23, we read the promise of Christ, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” “Believe” means “to be persuaded of, to place confidence, to trust, reliance upon, totally leaning on.” This speaks of total reliance on God. George Mueller, the founder of the Bristol Orphanage, was relating to a friend some of the difficulties he had to contend with in providing the orphans with food, day by day, and when he had finished, his friend said to him, “You seem to live from hand to mouth!” “Yes,” said Mr. Mueller, “it is my mouth, but God’s hand.”

Doubt sees the obstacles,
Faith sees the way;

Doubt sees the darksome night,
Faith sees the day;

Doubt dreads to take the step,
Faith soars on high;

Doubt whispers, “Who believes?”
Faith says, “I”.