SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2008
The other night I watched the movie “Facing the Giants”. I cannot even begin to describe to you how much I love, love, love that movie!!!!!!!! It’s only the second time that I have watched it, but I find so many statements that are made by the main character that touch the deepest parts of my heart.
The last time I saw it, I received one lesson from the movie. This time, I got another one. Throughout the movie, the main character Grant had so many things go wrong that it seemed as if his world was just falling to pieces before his eyes. And it didn’t look like it was going to get better any time soon. Just to paint a brief picture of what was happening to him: He was a football coach with a losing season for 6 years in a row, his car didn’t run more often than it worked, his washing machine quit running, he found out that he was incapable of bearing children, and then on top of all of that, he finds out that some of the student’s fathers are trying to remove him from his job. Amidst all of this, there is a scene where Grant goes outside and prays. And as he does, he tells God that He knows that He is still on the throne, and that He will still trust Him and believe Him no matter if he likes the direction that his life is headed or not. Not long after that is a scene where a man is walking the halls of the school praying for each of the students, and praying that the hearts of the kids who attended school there would turn to God. In this particular visit to the school, that man proceeds to enter Grant’s office and tell him that God led him there to give Grant a message. He told Grant that God had him there for a reason and that Grant was to bloom where God had planted him. He also went on to tell the story of two farmers that prayed for rain for their fields. He said that one went out and got his field ready for the rain that God would send, and the other did not. He then asked Grant, “Now which one do you think received the rain for his field?” The answer: the one who believed that God would send the rain.
This very thought has been the focus of my thoughts for the last few days. I had to ask myself, Am I the type of person who believes that God will send rain if I ask for it? I thought I was, but after careful consideration, I have realized that I often have a tendency to look at what I see instead of living in faith. I am not so different from the man in Mark 9. It says that his son was possessed by a spirit, and that the boy foamed at the mouth, could not speak, and rolled around on the ground. Verses 21-24 tell the story of what happened next. “Jesus asked, ‘How long has he been like this?’ 'From childhood’, he answered. 'It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ 'If you can?’ said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for him who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’
That is such a picture of me. I am that father, wanting to believe, but wary because of all that I have seen. But Jesus has asked me, "Do you believe me?” And I answer, “Yes, Lord, but help me with my unbelief!” Because in the deepest parts of my heart, where the truth of God resides, I know that God can and will do what He has set out to do. And I believe that if I ask Him for something that is in agreement with His will then it will be given to me. And God will be honored because of the prayers that are answered. I will prepare my fields for the rain that God will send.
And yet I will say in agreement with the main character Grant, “Lord, no matter what happens, I will still trust You, because You are still on the throne!”
POSTED BY KRISTIN AT 3:09 PM
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