Surrendering to the Proof of His Love

“There’s nothing more precious in this world than the feeling of being wanted.” -Diana Dors

Faith is not a thing we find along the shore line one day, somewhere among the broken shells and pieces of glass, to pick up and put in our pockets as if we have discovered some treasure floating in the vastness.

Faith is not proof in God revealing Himself to us, and then sealed forever in our hearts.

Faith is not perfectly answered prayers just as we imagined they’d be.

Faith is not a structure that we build with physical matter, but with the spirit.

Faith may empower us, or crumble us to our knees.

Faith may bring us great wisdom one day, and then escape us the next.

Faith is not an unwavering belief that, once we feel is real, always stays real to us.

No.

Faith is not permanent unless we tend to it; unless we take good care of it as it grows.

You see, faith is like a plant that blossoms within us… each time we witness God working in our lives and we choose to believe that it’s Him, and that all of His works are for our good, the plant thrives.

But during the times we don’t see new buds and question if the plant can ever be revived, we must yield to God’s season, rather than wrestle with His will.

Each time that God shows up in our lives, it can feel like we’re discovering a brand new way to keep our plant of faith strong.

But do we always choose to take the instructions and trust in them?

How do we keep faith alive?

We must surrender to the proof of His love with each opportunity He gives us to grow our faith in Him.

✞

We are currently living in a curious decade… everything we could want to know is transparently everywhere with one click, yet easily filled with deception. The addiction of immediate satisfaction, coupled with deep skepticism, has sped up experiences to an unrecognizable way of life, and has created a lifestyle where we rarely take the time to reflect and interpret the things entering our reality. Information simply comes in, leaves, and is replaced with new information. If we’re not giving care and attention to what comes in, we might be missing important revelations. How are we measuring our experiences? When it comes to growing and keeping our faith, we cannot speed our way through the things we witness. We need to slow down and reflect upon the deeper meaning and reason for each opportunity He gives us. I fully believe that God uses unique ways to reach us when we seek Him, but it’s still up to us to remain open to receive His communication back.

While the Bible is packed with many stories about faith, there are two that I just love! One story is about asking God for signs, and the other story goes deeper into the reason for the sign.

ONE: 

³⁶ Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— ³⁷ look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” ³⁸ And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

³⁹ Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” ⁴⁰ That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew. -Judges 6: 36-40

One thing I want to first mention is that the Bible is clear about NOT testing God; however, when we are seeking His will, yet feel confused or insecure, we can most certainly ask for some reassurance. Any good parent would offer support and clarification to a child who is seeking to understand the parent’s instructions. In this story, Gideon is not skeptically challenging God to move a mountain, he’s just asking for a little reassurance, which God graciously and abundantly gives to him— twice. At the end of 36, he even says to God, “as you have promised,” and yet he still asks for two more signs! When we ask God for help, we must remember to be patient because He typically exceeds our requests.

The other beautiful aspect to this story is that Gideon chooses the scenario that he wants to hear from God through; signs that would speak to him personally. This is okay to do! If we ask for a clear sign— one that we could not confuse with anything else but the will of God— He will show us great things.

TWO:

“Jesus answered them and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on Him.’” -John 6: 26-27

Allow me to dissect this for you: In this story, Jesus multiplies bread and feeds masses of hungry people. As if witnessing such a miracle isn’t already reason enough to have faith, He goes on to say…You believe because you ate the bread. The bread translates as a parable for the Bread of Life— God’s promises to us for here on earth, and for everlasting life. The bread being multiplied was also witnessing a miracle— a tangible act that can be seen. You ate it and were filled, meaning:

That is why you believe and seek me; not because you saw the signs, but because YOU WERE CHANGED.

What Jesus is saying here is that signs are really just to help us keep our faith strong, but God will prove Himself in our lives with real acts; solid changes that we can feel and measure. Eat the bread (His promises) and feel full (experience how His works change us.)

So, what’s the problem? This sounds easy. The thing is that our hearts are like wild horses running free, untamed, and belonging to no one; free will. God knows this— He made us— but that’s what makes His proof in our lives even more amazing! If we seek Him with our whole heart, He will never stop chasing us with His love, and “breaking” us at every turn in order to show us that we don’t have to roam the earth alone and lost. His house, His food, His protection, His forgiveness, and eternal salvation are all freely offered to us. Each time we turn a bend of doubt, He will show up to calm the wild storm within us, offering a forgiving embrace. God’s love brings us IN from the storm, gives us all we need, and keeps us safe for all of eternity. Surrendering to each opportunity to grow our faith is not an act of submission, rather an act of great spiritual strength. To “submit” usually means to lose (a freedom), but yielding to faith means we are allowing ourselves to receive (eternal freedom.)

If you have witnessed signs and felt positive changes, allow me to reassure you: you’re not “crazy.” When miracles happen in our lives, especially if it aligns with the prayers we have been praying, it’s God answering us. So, what do we do after experiencing solid evidence that should make our “faith plant” thrive? Well, that’s up to each of us to decide after we hear from God. It’s not always easy to accept the signs we receive because sometimes the answer isn’t what we thought it would be, forces us to grow out of our comfort zones, or is so profound that we dismiss it as a coincidence. Each time that we reach out for God and He reaches back with a clear response, we must take the time to not only be grateful for the sign, but to reflect upon the meaning that the sign is revealing. We need only to ask honestly and to then keep our ears, eyes, and hearts open to receive all the ways that He longs to guide us on our journey toward wholeness.

Let’s try to yield to the transformation that He’s creating within us, and allow His goodness to fill up every area of our lives with abundance. When we have faith in God’s plan, it also gives us confidence in ourselves, because we know that we’re living our lives as who we are called to be. Strength is not learning how to fight pain, it’s learning how to surrender to love… and love will conquer the enemy at every turn.

Written by: Michelle TK

✞

Dear Lord:

You listen to me, so I’m listening to you.

I’m ready to receive the things you have prepared for my life.

You have watched me try to go at this alone, but I know I need your help.

I wasn’t ready for a long time, but now I am. I’m ready to leave the past behind me. I’m ready to listen to your plan for my life, and I will try my best to follow it.

Please show me the path in a clear way, so that I won’t be confused or afraid.

Lord, I’m listening.

Show me the way, and I’ll go wherever you want to take me.

Amen.

-Michelle TK