“…for we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:7, NET)
Let’s remember that God is a God of abundance, and He is not slack about His promises. When He promises us healing, He heals. When He promises to provide for our needs, He provides. When He promises to re-establish broken relationships, he re-establishes them. In His time, yes, but our job is to live by faith, not by sight, and our works should respond accordingly. So why not give God a sacrifice of praise, even if we aren’t yet healed? Why not throw a celebration, even if our homes aren’t yet brought back together? For in so doing, we are living by faith, not by sight.
This kind of a message is always easier to preach than to practice, but it’s interesting that whenever God gives me a new message, He always allows me to go through something in my life that makes me have to “practice” what I “preach”.
This time is no different.
About a year ago, my cancer medication was changed, and as soon as I began taking the new pills, I began having new symptoms. I decided not to worry about it, but when I went back for my next follow-up visit with oncology, my Oncologist couldn’t dismiss it as readily as I had. He wanted me to go for an ultrasound and he said he would refer me to a specialist.
Quite naturally, my “laissez-faire” attitude flew out the window. I mean, if your doctor is worried, shouldn’t you be as well?
The symptoms continued for the next several weeks, until God began giving me this “God of Abundance” message. I claimed healing over these new symptoms that day, claiming His abundant healing power over them. Gradually, over the course of a week, the symptoms disappeared completely.
I rejoiced and I praised God, then I made a donation in the name of the mighty God who heals, and I invited my family out for ice cream to celebrate my healing.
The problem was, I was walking by sight, not by faith. I didn’t make a donation and have a celebration with my family before the symptoms resolved; I did so after I was already seeing the results of God’s abundance. And imagine my disappointment when a few days after my little “celebration” with my family, the symptoms returned, worse than ever. To say I was discouraged would have been an understatement. I admit that I was even a tiny bit angry at God. After all, I had already declared His abundance, I had already declared to my entire family that I was healed!
I kept the return of my symptoms to myself for a few days. I had to work through my anger. And of course, they worsened. Finally, I shared the new trouble with my husband, fully expecting him to be as discouraged as I was. He was not. He simply said God would heal me of these symptoms for good.
That’s when God began speaking to me about walking by faith and not by sight. I wish I could tell you that I started praising God that I was healed, even when the symptoms were still present, but I’m afraid my faith is not yet that strong. I gave the worry back to God, however, and I repented of my anger and discouragement and prayed for God to strengthen my faith. Anyone surprised to learn that the symptoms again began to diminish, until three days later, they had disappeared completely?
Why did my symptoms return?
I believe it was because God had an important lesson to teach me in walking by faith in His abundance, and not by sight. I don’t know if the symptoms will ever return again, but I do know one thing: I am healed. Period. Whether that healing is manifested today or next month is irrelevant: The God of the universe has poured out His abundant healing power on my body, and I rejoice, I praise Him. And just perhaps, it’s time for a second little celebration. What do you think?
Whatever your concern is now, friends, why not give it to God? Why not stand upon His abundant promises, even when you don’t see the results right away? Why not follow Solomon’s example, and before you see even the tiniest manifestation of the promise, why not give God a sacrifice of praise and plan a little celebration? That, friends, is truly walking by faith and not by sight.
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.
(To access the entire “God of Abundance” mini-series, please click here.)