Growing up, my favorite act in the circus was the trapeze artists. I was amazed at their stunts and flying tricks. I would hold my breath as they stepped off a platform to fly through the air. They leapt from one swing to another, flipping, spinning, and twirling as they flew. Sometimes another artist would hang from a swing and catch them. Other times they would pass another artist without colliding into each other.
The trapeze artists made it seem so easy. They had unrelenting belief that they would be okay. Unrelenting faith that they would not fall to their death. How did they do that? What gave them the confidence that they were safe?
I believe their confidence was in part due to the belief that the other person or the other swing would be there to catch them. They depended on the presence of someone or something else; BUT what if that presence was not there? The trapeze artist was 50 feet in the air swinging from one point to the other. What if there was nothing for them to grab? What if there was no one there to catch them? What if they fell?
They were still unconcerned. Then knew that they were not completely reliant on the skills of another nor the placement of a swing.
Their ultimate safety was the large net beneath them.
That net was the true insurance that they would not seriously injure themselves or fall to their death. Would the artist’s stunts, twirls, and flips would be as extravagant if there was no net? Would they still be brave, or would their courage fail them?
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As a child of Yahweh, we are called to surrender our lives to Him. To believe He is the one who releases us, grabs us. To trust Him to cushion us when we fall. As we step through our everyday lives, we consistently step off unseen platforms into the unknown. Sometimes, we believe we know where we are going and the step seems easier. Other times we are called to step blindly into the unknown.
The difference between the trapeze artist and the child of Yahweh is that the artist believed the net was there because they could see it. A child of Yahweh must first have faith that Yahweh is there because He said it. Faith is not based upon sight or knowing. Yet FAITH is the foundation of our relationship with our Heavenly Father Yahweh. Without it, there is no relationship with Him.
We must first believe He is there AND that He cares for us before we can go to Him. If we don’t believe He exists, then we will not call on Him, speak to Him, or accept His love. Even a mustard seed of faith is enough to put things in motion. The person who starts their prayer with “I don’t know if you are there, but…” has the smallest hope that He is there, so they reach out to Him.
Faith is where our relationship with Yahweh starts.
‘Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. ‘ Hebrews 11:1,3, 6
How do we gain faith?
We are taught that faith is only achieved by hearing/learning the word of God. His words tell us that He is with us and we are asked to believe before and in order to experience the relationship.
…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17
We must learn God’s words and trust them as true. His words plant seeds of faith in our hearts. Those seeds of faith create actions of faith. Actions of faith cause reactions in our Heavenly Father.
Our Faith comes first, then Yahweh acts. How do we know this, because…
Yahweh Whispers… (bold and brackets for emphasis where appropriate)
‘ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and [then] he will make straight your paths. ‘ Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord , and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and [then] he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord ; trust in him, and [then] he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him’ Psalm 37:3-7
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
Our faith is THE act of courage that Yahweh rewards with His action. The ultimate courage and act of faith is the foundation of our salvation.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16 (NIV)
We must first believe through faith that Yahweh is real.
We must first believe through faith that Yahweh loves us.
We must first believe through faith that Yahweh wants the best for us.
We must first believe through faith that Yahweh gave his love as the greatest sacrifice though his son.
… Else we are lost
Faith is our foundation.
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Our prayer for you…
Heavenly Father, we ask that You strengthen the faith of the one receiving this Whisper. Please show them Your love for them and Your grace. Show them in each moment, in each today, and in each tomorrow. Teach them that everything good comes from You. When their faith falters, show them the good in their lives, show them the good in others. Teach them that everything good comes from you so that their faith grows stronger. Help them to create a bridge of faith to You, so they may accept the ultimate gift of Your son. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
