The Reward Of Confident Faith

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

Hebrews 11:1-2

I love Hebrews 11, where the “Hall of Faith” lists those who obeyed God: Abel, Enoch, and Noah, Abraham and Sarah—faithful ones who believed and welcomed the promises of God. The Lord set his favor and approval on them because they believed things they couldn’t see and hoped for what was going to happen with confident assurance.

This passage also reminds me of a little boy I knew who was diagnosed with leukemia and endured aggressive chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant—all before he was a year old. But after treatment and five years of remission, Michael faced a new challenge: a large mass had formed on the bone. Facing tests and possible surgery, seven-year-old Michael prayed and put “Mr. Lump,” his name for the mass, in Jesus’ hand. Every night at bedtime prayers with his family, Michael asked Jesus to take Mr. Lump away. As he prayed, he possessed a confident, simple trust that enabled him to leave his lump with Jesus. Where most of us are tempted to pick up our “lumps,” take them back again and try to carry them ourselves, Michael trusted his lump to God.

A week later, Michael had a series of tests, including a bone scan, an MRI, and an ultrasound. From the results of those tests, the doctors told the family they believed the lump was a benign mass produced by previous chemo and nothing to worry about. But Michael already knew not to worry; he trusted God and had faith in God’s ability to heal—and his faith was rewarded.

Lord, grant me the faith of a child, the assurance that you are good and you are in control, and the grace to believe and welcome your promises into my life. Amen.

We need to learn to know [God] so well that we feel safe when we have left our difficulties with him. To know Jesus in that way is a prerequisite of all true prayer.

Ole Hallesby(1879–1961), Norwegian pastor and writer