Faith Battle!
What in the world does this verse mean? (Matthew 18:19 NCV) ""Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven."
It is in the context of settling disputes, conflicts, or disagreements. I have heard people lately say that it means if you and I agree in faith on any particular subject or desire it will happen. Can that be true?
I need some help here. Faith is believing in things we can't see or can only hope for. Hebrews 11 talks of it as though it were a "done deal." Explain that to a 15 year old when she asks, "What good is faith when you pray and God doesn't answer your prayers?" Danielle had a few short seizures tonight and again is battling this age old debate about faith.
My wish is that these things stop. Will you agree with me in faith that they will? Will you trust God with me strong enough that our faith will sink strongly into her mind? More than anything I want her to have faith in God.
Sunday I'm talking about Abraham and Isaac. What faith! How can this man offer his son? The only explanation is that he must have believed that God would take care of him even through resurrection if so be.
So many faith issues. So much to wonder about. So little I know when I think I have a handle on faith. Help me here. I need all of you to be in prayer for Danielle and for us as we try and hold her up in the face of this trial.
Thanks for letting me talk about it. God bless you all.
SIDE NOTE: Keep praying about our housing situation. We are still looking. We are somewhat pressed for time, but have a few prospects.
posted by Keith Davis at
11:01 PM
4 Comments:
I have no answers for you, as many of my prayers have not been answered the way I had hoped they would be. I'm sure Job felt God wasn't listening to him at times, either. But still Job believed in God and that's what we are called to do in the face of seemingly unanswered prayers. Maybe that's why it's called "faith." We continue to believe in spite of not being able to see why things happen the way they do or what's up ahead around the next bend in the road. It would be easy to believe if everything always went our way. But, that wouldn't require "fatih", now would it?
I will be praying for your daughter, for physical healing and for continued spiritual growth. And praying for you, her father, as I know how it is to feel helpless in the face of a child's pain.
By
Connie Lard, at 6:36 AM
There's an "old" country song that comes to mind immediately. The chorus goes something like "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." Oddly I have found this to be very true in my life.
Jeremiah 29:11 is my "rock" if you will. It has served me well over the troubled times in my life and always gives me hope. I'm sure you know what it says, but here it is again anyway: "'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
We may not always get what we pray for because sometimes God has a bigger plan for us. We couldn't have true faith without some trials and tribulations along the way to make us stronger. When you're down on your knees face down in the slime of the world the only place left to look is up to Him. Sometimes it takes getting the breath knocked out of you to make you see that.
But, on the other hand, sometimes we do get what we pray for. God so richly blesses us in His time and in His way. Not ours. It's a hard lesson to learn and a very difficult concept to fully truly grasp. I still struggle with it daily (you know most of my story there I'd imagine) but I know that my only alternative is death and hell for all eternity. Given the choice, I'll take my trials and tribulations here on earth knowing in my heart that bigger and better things await me on the other side. As I've heard you and many others say before, I'd much rather belive here and find out I'm wrong later than to not believe here and find out I'm wrong later. It's hard. And God knows it's hard. But when you are at your lowest point is when you can feel his presence beside you the most. At that point he has your FULL attention. He's still the lifter of our heads. And he's still in the miracle business. Sometimes he chooses to bless us with one immediately and other times he chooses to let us wander through the wilderness for years. But he never leaves us. EVER!
Peace, love and blessings on you and your family. You are all in our thoughts and prayers!! Love you guys!! Keep the faith!!!
Me :O)
By
Anonymous, at 8:53 AM
Concerning Danielle you have my full agreement. I pray for her seizures to stop and irregardless, her faith to strengthen. When our children our brought to their knees by circumstances in their lives it will drive a parent prone before God. Hang in there Bro and we’ll keep praying for Danielle and your new home.
By
cwinwc, at 2:11 PM
Sorry to step in...I think the verse is to be understood within the context of James 4. I'm NOT saying that it is God's will that children suffer or they suffer because we are selfish in our prayers. Matthew 18 is not about suffering children it is I believe about the struggles between brethren.
I am sorry for your struggle and any human answer to a father(I know) about his children is the wrong answer ...keep going ...keep loving ...keep praying.
I can only know as much about prayer and God as God and prayer...Jesus prayed for a different result in the Garden. He's God and He prayed for something He didn't receive, something He "?knew?" He wouldn't receive. But ultimately God's will was done in faith, by faith, through faith, for faith.
God be with you.
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Anonymous, at 4:19 PM
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