TRUSTING IN GOD’S GOODNESS
Kendra Intihar
Today's Scripture: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6, ESV
Theme: Our faith should be built on the Holy Spirit, seeking God earnestly, desiring to experience God beyond our own wishes.
FAITH IS A JOURNEY
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move” (Matthew 17:20, NIV). This is the verse that sent Pepper (the main character in “Little Boy”) on his journey toward faith.
The Bible tells us in James 2:26 that faith is useless (or “dead”) when it is not accompanied by works. As Pepper sets his heart on growing his faith, he learns that his faith will be meaningless if he doesn’t let go of hatred and prejudice. The faith we profess is made evident by the condition of our hearts and the care we show for others. Along the way, Pepper is encouraged to “good works” by a gentle priest as a practical lesson in growing his faith. For Pepper, just like for us, growing and developing our faith necessitates growing and developing as a person. He had to work hard to overcome prejudices and show love through acts of service.
EVEN IF…
Like many people who feel they have nowhere else to turn, Pepper leaned into faith when his life was upended. The Lord is not the author of chaos and confusion, but Jesus will draw us close to Him during times of tragedy, loss, or crisis. In Pepper’s case, he was determined to grow his faith enough to bring his father home from war. He figured that with “faith as small as a mustard seed,” he could “will” his dad home.
Of course, that’s not always how faith works. Faith means entrusting all parts of your life to a God who loves you, knows you, and has good plans for you. God is not a genie in a bottle who grants our wishes if we have enough faith. God is the eternal Creator whose plans for this world – and for our life’s tiny thread in it – are better than our “wishes” could ever be, even if we don’t understand what He’s doing.
WHATEVER THE OUTCOME
Spoiler alert: In the movie, Pepper and his friend, Hashimoto, sit together and talk about loss and faith. Pepper, even as young as he is, comes to discover that the loss of his father doesn’t mean that he didn’t have enough faith. Not only that, but the faith he had been so determined to grow is what sustained him through that loss. Of course, because it’s Hollywood, the miracle comes to pass by the end of the movie. Pepper’s dad had only been presumed dead because of a misunderstanding, but he was, in fact, still alive. Even still, Pepper has received the lesson meant for him: Faith isn’t about the outcome, it’s about trusting in God’s goodness.
Make it Personal: The wonderful thing about faith is that it doesn’t depend on what happens or doesn’t happen. We can trust in God’s goodness whether or not the miracle comes. We can trust in God’s goodness whether or not our ideal outcome is ever realized. In times of loss and tragedy, many people choose to pull away from God, imagining that He has either caused their pain or failed to prevent it. Maybe that’s you. If so, I’m so sorry that you’ve experienced that kind of hopelessness. Here are some truths to sustain us as we ask God to help us grow in our faith:
• God is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28);
• The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and delivers them from their afflictions (Psalm 34:18-19);
• The Lord’s plans for you are good (Jeremiah 29:11);
• There will come a day when mourning ceases forever (Revelation 21:4);
• You don’t have to be strong – God is strong enough to carry you. (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Pray: Father, help me to seek You always – especially when my faith feels smaller than a mustard seed. Remind me of Your goodness. Grow my faith in times of joy and in times of sorrow so that I learn to lean on Your goodness in every season. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Read: Matthew 6:28-34; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:19
Weekly Memory Verse: “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20b, ESV