Hebrews 11:6 says… “but without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” God has a way of constantly uniquely revealing himself to those who seek him and those who wholeheartedly trust him.
Introduction
Though God tends to deal with everyone in different and unique ways, there are often similarities in the way he gets to reveal himself to us all. The opening verse from Hebrews 11:6 makes it known that it isn’t impossible to please God by having faith in him. Faith as the text says is one way to please God.
If we were to have a relationship with someone, we’d want them to trust us. And if for some reason they don’t trust us and we truly love them, we don’t get pleased by the relationship. We question and doubt the relationship.
So is it with God and having a relationship with him? We are meant to please God by believing and trusting in him. It’s what it’s simply rounded up as having faith. In this article, we’ll be exploring bible passages that have unique elements and patterns of faith that can reveal God’s way to us.
Through Trusting in God’s Sovereignty (Genesis 22:1-14)
One notable person who had an exceptional journey of faith with God is Abraham. He’s sometimes called the father of faith by many Christians today. In the twenty-second chapter of Genesis, God instructed Abraham to take his son and go to a place where he’ll show him and offer his only son as a burnt offering in one of the mountains there.
Abraham at every moment of the passage followed God’s order and God’s command. One thing that’s worthy to note at this point is that Abraham solidly trusted God’s sovereignty as the owner of all including himself. He didn’t take time to consider or ponder the fact that was his only son at that point. By his actions, Abraham acknowledged God’s power and full sovereignty.
Through Deepening Trust and Surrender
Another of God’s patterns that are revealed through different or several encounters of faith is surrender. As a believer, one of the things God or having a relationship with God demands from us is to surrender to his ways. As a people living in a world, there are many kinds of desires and many of them are worldly, it could take not more than a second for anyone to try to impose their will on God. Consciously or unconsciously that could happen. It’s rather funny to ask God to surrender to us instead of us surrendering to God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the lord with all your heart, and lean not into your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths”
Trusting minds
Trusting in the Lord or having faith in the Lord requires that we not on our understanding. If we do get to rely or lean on our understanding, then we’re saying God isn’t wise. And that can’t be true. God is wise. Far more than anyone can imagine. But there’s no way of displaying a wholehearted faith in God without surrendering to him.
Why wouldn’t we trust God anyway? It seems or sounds like an absurd thing to do but people often get tricked into it some way or another. And then they fall into the trap of believing in their intelligence and simultaneously stop surrendering to God.
Presenr-Dat World
Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” In their present-day world, there’s often difficulty among unbelievers in surrendering to God. Especially when it (the situation) relates to the timing and the trajectory some certain aspects of our lives will head. We make assumptions and those assumptions often cause us to head in a direction that isn’t planned by God. But God’s pattern revealed through his word is to surrender.
Through Unwavering obedience in the Face of Uncertainty (Genesis 12:1-9)
One other pattern of God revealed through his dealings with believers is the way of obedience. God continually reveals himself and his power to anyone who continually faces uncertainty amid unwavering obedience.
In verses 1-9 of the twelfth chapter of Genesis to leaves his country his kindred and his father’s house to a land that he’ll show him. Abraham obeyed God despite the uncertainty of taking such actions. And even up till the point where there was famine and he had to go near Egypt he kept on obeying the earlier spoken of God despite the uncertainty that’s inherent in moving forward.
God made us understand again through his dealing with Abraham that he rewards the effort of obedience with great help and success. And His often required from us as modern-day Christians is a leap of faith. And that leap of faith is often an act of obedience.
Through Courage in the Face of Fear
Psalm 23:4: “Yes though I walk through the valley of the shadows of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me” Another pattern of faith God constantly tries to reward is the pattern of courage. Unknown to some, courage is a God act. Courage is not a worldly act. It is never a worldly act. God hasn’t given us a spirit of timidity. A display of courage is a sign of faith. Displaying or exhibiting signs of courage is a sign of faith. Anyone courageous is showing signs of courage and showing the fact that he has faith in God.
Through Humility amid Success
We can’t talk about courage as a sign of faith without getting to mention humility as a sign of faith. Especially in the modern world where there seems to be too many unnecessary needs to inflate one’s ego.
This unique and strong perspective keeps us grounded and continually dependent on God’s guidance and grace. It’s also a way of showing faith in God because being humble leaves us with no other choice than to have faith in God for whatever might be tempting us to be proud. Even, anyone or most people who have shown a great amount of faith have been put in testing and humbling situations.
Journey of Faith
As believers, we are not alone in the journey of faith. We are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) who have walked these paths before us. Their stories encourage and inspire us to keep running the race with endurance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfectionist of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
It’s undeniable that situations that require different shades of our faith like humility and courage etc could be trying. But they’re an avenue for God to reveal himself through. They’re also testaments, proof made by God to let others who are coming along on the journey of faith see, know, and understand that God is revealing his mightiness and power to those who have wholehearted faith in him.
Conclusion
Faith is a thing we live out in our relationship with God daily. Aside from faith being one of the foundations of having a relationship with God. Faith is also one of the things we impact each other with. Iron sharpens iron after all.
As believers, we are called to support and encourage one another on our journey of faith. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Together, we can strengthen and uplift one another.
Reflections
As we reflect on these patterns of faith that have been highlighted in this article, let us commit to living them out daily.
We’re meant to give our hearts to God and commit or surrender to understanding his patterns of dealings to foster the relationship we have with him. By doing so, we will grow closer to God and also become living testimonies of His faithfulness and power.
Not that alone, we’ll also understand his patterns and even be able to teach them if or when necessary. You can read similar posts on our Bible search page of the site.
