Hebrews 11:6 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…”
One of the biggest misconceptions about faith assumes it is a feeling, a flood of positive mental energy we have to drum up. If we “drum it up” enough, we’ll get what we ask for, but if we don’t, we won’t. Not a scriptural perspective.
This became clear to me as I was returning home to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, after visiting my daughter when she lived in Fairfax, Virginia. I planned to ride the metro from where she lived to Union Station in DC and there take an Amtrak home. My ticket was reserved for 5:30 PM, so we left in plenty of time for me to catch the train. But something happened on the way to DC.
The metro stopped. I mean a total halt. All you could see out the window was a mass of concrete block, immoveable concrete block. I kept looking at my watch and as the time ticked away, it became clear that I was going to have a hard time making my connection. I did the only thing I could do at the time. I prayed.
Finally, the metro started moving. It was 5:30. My mind told me it was now impossible to make the train. But undaunted, as soon as the metro pulled in, I dashed off, running as fast as possible through a crowded menagerie of people, all the while searching for Amtrak signs. After finally making it to the ticket counter, I hastily got through the line and was directed where to go. I reached the train, still running full bore. The door had already closed but the conductor—somewhat miraculously— motioned me on, and in a second we were off.
What had caused me to run like a madman even though I felt all hope was gone? Had I gone strictly with my feelings, I would have given up. Something deeper than emotion was activated when I prayed….faith. It proved to be a substance that superseded feeling.
Are you relying more on feelings than faith to get you through? Can’t think of a better time than now to switch trains.