Don't Just Believe In God, Believe God I hear so many Christians say, “I believe in God.” And they seem content with the level of faith that statement implies. Well I have decided that I’m no longer content with that level of faith. I am ready to move on to new heights in my personal relationship with my Heavenly Father. I am ready to stand before God and not just believe in who He is and what He can do, but believe every word that He speaks to me. I realize that some of you who are reading this may feel that I’m implying in some way that I’m better than other Christians. But I’m not. I’m simply trying to share with you a joyous revelation that has been bestowed upon me through my own personal experiences. If you have already read my testimony, then you know a little bit about the bad things that I have experienced. If you haven’t read it, you may want to do so before reading this any further. However, if you decide to keep reading, I would suggest you go and read it afterwards so that this message make more sense.
In December of 1999, my family was told that our eldest son might have Muscular Dystrophy. They weren’t sure what kind he had but they had decided to test him for a type of MD knows as Duchenne, which is considered the worst type of MD. The reason it’s considered so is because it’s the only one that affects young boys and the only one that has a very good chance of shortening the life span. Well, out of curiosity, I did some research on Duchenne MD on the internet. And when I saw the statistics I immediately broke down crying at the thought that my child might die before I do. It was at that moment that I knew a little of what parents who do outlive their children feel like.
I talked to all of my Christian friends. They all offered words of encouragement and hope, but they didn’t seem to lighten my heart any. So I decided to go to God Himself to see what He had to say about it. Well I opened my Bible and it fell open to Isaiah 49. And after reading the whole chapter, these were the verses that really stood out to me: 8 (1st half), 13, 25 (2nd half), and 26 (2nd half). I will now quote them in this order as one whole statement as I feel it was revealed to me. Thus says the Lord, “In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You“; Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted. “For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children. All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Three days before New Year’s Eve we found out that our son did indeed have Duchenne MD. So now I had a choice. I could continue to believe in God, and to hope that He had my best interests at heart. Or I could believe the words He said to me and the promises that He made to me in those scriptures. I decided to believe God. And I continue to make that choice daily. God never makes promises He doesn’t keep. And there are days when I feel weak. Those are the days that I break down crying. But then God’s promises echo in my soul and I am once again filled with the peace of God for which words would do no justice. If you have never experienced this peace, no words I could ever speak would describe it for you. But if you have felt this peace, then you know what I’m talking about. It’s that absolute assurance that God IS in control. It’s that inner voice that tells you that no matter what happens in your situation that God WILL be glorified. And to me that is the greatest benefit. My one desire is to give God the glory for all the victories in my life. I want to grab people off the street and tell them just how awesome my God is. I want them to see God’s love shine through me with the way my face lights up when I smile. I want them to know that when you really believe God it makes anything bearable and can turn tragedy into victory.
So I encourage you to make that step. Step up into a place where you no longer just believe in God, but you believe God. A place where there is no doubt in your heart, in your mind, or in your soul that God does all things for the good of those who love Him who are called for a purpose through Christ. In the scripture I referenced it stated that God will have mercy on His afflicted. And the truth is that we are all afflicted in some way or another. Not all affliction is physical. So if you desire that undeniable trust in God, step on up. Make it official. Believe God. And keep on believing Him each and every day.
Yours In Christ,
Julia
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