Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – God’s power is wonderful whether or not He is working a miracle. So when we struggle with our faith, or lack of faith, in hard situations, let us believe that God is able, whether through a miracle or through His providence, because He cares for us.
We often recognize the power of God in great miracles. But Scripture shows that His power is at work even when we see nothing special happening. God still heals and works miracles according to His sovereign will, and true faith rests on God Himself. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
Faith Rests on the Power of God
This article helps us understand the relationship between faith and God’s power.
The healing of the demon-possessed boy (Matthew 17:14–20) at first glance seems like just one more miraculous healing recorded by Matthew. What makes this account special is Jesus’ emphasis on the role of faith. Faith is prominent in the miracles recorded in chapter 9, but in chapter 17 Jesus emphasizes the lack of faith.
God does not depend on human faith to accomplish His work; that is clear from other miracles Matthew records. Jesus’ transfiguration just before the boy’s healing is an important example. It was a glorious miracle that had nothing to do with human faith. The same is true of the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13–21) and the four thousand (Matthew 15:32–38). So the first thing we need to know about faith and God’s power is that He does not depend on our faith to do His work. God is not restrained by our lack of faith.
However, the second thing we need to learn is that God uses our faith in accomplishing His purposes. We see this in the healing of the demon-possessed boy. Mark records it clearly in Jesus’ conversation with the boy’s father. The father said to Jesus, “It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22). The father had seen the disciples fail, so he was not sure Jesus could help. His faith at that moment could be described as no more than an uncertain hope that Jesus could do what the disciples could not.
Jesus replied, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). Faith can be described in different ways depending on the situation. Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see,” fitting for the Jewish readers of that letter, who faced fierce opposition and needed encouragement in their sure hope in Christ.
For the boy’s father, faith meant believing that Jesus could heal his son. We are often like that father. We may face extremely difficult problems, and because we have prayed for a long time without an answer, we begin to doubt that God will answer. But we must believe that nothing is impossible with God.
Sarah, Abraham’s wife, doubted that God could give them a son in their old age, but the Lord replied, “Is anything too difficult for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14). Centuries later, the prophet Jeremiah’s faith wavered when God told him to buy a field as the Babylonians were invading (Jeremiah 32:6–26). Again God answered, “Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). To have faith in God even when He has not yet answered, or when we face hard problems, is to keep believing that He can do what we cannot.
The importance of faith is further emphasized in Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” (Matthew 17:19). He said it was because of their little faith. We don’t know why their faith was lacking; but we know Jesus had given them authority to drive out demons (Matthew 10:1–8), so why was their faith weak at that moment? Perhaps because the demon did not leave the boy immediately, and they began to doubt Jesus’ power. Or perhaps they assumed that because they had succeeded before, it would work again. So we see that faith is not only total dependence on Jesus’ power, but also renouncing proud self-confidence.
We have studied the theme of God’s providence. In Matthew 17 we see an example: paying the temple tax. Jesus, as the Son of God, did not have to pay the tax. Yet so as not to cause offense, He sent Peter to catch a fish with a coin in its mouth (Matthew 17:24–27). This short account raises questions: How did the coin get into the fish’s mouth? How did Peter catch that fish and not another? It is quite possible that Jesus performed a miracle and created the coin in the fish’s mouth.
However, another scenario is possible: someone “accidentally” dropped a coin into the sea, a fish snapped at it and it got stuck in its mouth. Then the fish swam to exactly where Peter cast his line, and it was caught. That chain of events is not a miracle, yet all of it was necessary for God’s purpose to be accomplished, and Jesus was in control of all of it. God’s power is wonderful whether or not He is working a miracle. So when we struggle with our faith, or lack of faith, in hard situations, let us believe that God is able, whether through a miracle or through His providence, because He cares for us.
Trusting God’s Power Every Day
God’s power is seen not only in extraordinary things, but also in how He keeps us every day, gives strength to the weary and transforms human hearts. The Holy Spirit’s greatest work is to make us more like Jesus.
When your faith is tested, remember the times God has been faithful in the past. And keep praying, trusting that He hears and will answer in the way that is best for us.
You may also like: 5 Powerful Prayers From Scripture and 3 Truths to Remember in the Storms of Life.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that Your power never changes. Increase our faith to trust You whether or not we see miracles, and let Your power be displayed in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Thùy Trang
Adapted from: Ligonier.org
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