Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Even if

[This week's column is written by Aaron Gravett]

So many times we pray and God answers those prayers quickly when and how we want.

Sometimes we pray and pray and the answers seem to not come to pass. For those, they are told - “You just don’t have enough faith.”

The thing is though, is it really great faith, if every time you ask, God gives; or is it greater faith when you cling onto the Lord Jesus even if you have to hold onto His faithfulness when the answers we want don’t come?

Let’s see what the most righteous man on earth said in his time when God allowed Satan to take everything away from him - even his health.  

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

Think about that!  To “slay” means to kill by violence and wrath. Job was saying, even if God did that - “yet will I trust in Him.”

Notice he isn’t saying: “When God answers every prayer, how I pray, and when I pray, then will I continue to trust in Him.” No, he is saying, “Even if He doesn’t answer any prayers and even if He kills me with wrath - even then, I will trust in Him.”

Now, which one is showing the greater faith? Of course, Job is.  

Another example that demonstrates this is with the faithful servants Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Nebuchadnezzar made a huge image and declared that at a certain time that music would be played and everyone had to fall down and worship the image. Anyone that wouldn’t would be cast into the fiery furnace.

Well, the time came and they did not fall down and worship the image! Nebuchadnezzar commanded that they be brought to give an answer, and what an answer they gave!

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

Daniel 3:17-18 

God will deliver us, but if not, we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image. Look at the faith of - even if!

Their faith and devotion were on God no matter the outcome.  

Now God did deliver them. Yes, it was the fourth man, Christ in the fire! Their bodies were not burned, not a hair was singed, and not even their clothes smelled like smoke! Realize the faith they had though, that was their answer they gave before the answer came! That was truly great faith!

We have this same faith echoed in the New Testament with the apostle Paul. He had an infirmity (a thorn in the flesh) and this seems to be something physical he was dealing with. He asked God to take it away three times. The answer to Paul echoes the same sentiment of - even if.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 

Even if the thorn isn’t taken away, he will glory in his infirmities so that the power of Christ will rest on him!

Therefore, do we pray for healing? Of course, we do. God commands us to do that! Do we ask God to increase our faith and trust in his faithfulness for healing, of course we do! But does our trust in God and His faithfulness rely on Him answering every prayer when and how we want? Absolutely not!

We trust in Jesus Christ with our whole hearts and lives – even if! Why? Just because of who He is! Truly, with salvation, that is enough to trust in Him no matter what - even if!