I have a lot of problems, and my friend says that, if I just have enough faith, God will take them away. Is she right? If so I guess I'll always have them, because my faith isn't very strong. — T.J.
No doubt your friend is sincere and wants to help you, but God hasn't promised to take away all our problems if we just have enough faith. Sometimes God does intervene and take them away in response to our prayers of faith, but not always. Instead, sometimes He gives us the courage and strength to carry on in the midst of our problems.
No one had a stronger faith than the Apostle Paul, and yet, in spite of his faith and his prayers, God chose not to take away a particular problem that oppressed him (an unnamed illness). Instead, in the midst of his weakness, Paul experienced a new measure of God's power and love. He said, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
Don't misunderstand me; no matter what problems we face, we should turn to God and seek His help. After all, isn't it better to face our problems with God than without Him? Remember Jesus' words: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
Most of all, don't be satisfied with a weak faith. Begin by making sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and then grow in your faith by making the Bible and prayer and fellowship with other believers part of your daily life. God loves you, and He wants you to learn to walk with Him every day.
PRIVACY
