Hebrews 11:32–40 (ESV) —
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
NOTE: These verses explain faith better than any other verse in the bible. The break in the middle of verse 35 from positive to negative results shows that one's faith is not evidenced by the results. Faith is believing that God knows what he is doing and ultimately he has a better plan. Technically, God's best answers lie outside of this physical world. You are commended for trusting God, not for getting what you want. What we should want is God's will. Of course, they are trying circumstances that seem to call for a quick answer. What do we do? We keep praying. We keep giving our worries. We look for his answer. God gives good gifts to his children.
PONDER:
- Can I wait upon God's provision?
- Will I continually pray?
PRAYER: Father, I have been here. I know what it is like to need immediate answers. I know the feeling of no water in a desert as the Israelites experienced. I want to trust and wait upon you. And I do so desire to see your answers to those great needs.
