Day 32 - Now That's a Good Question

Today, Scarlett's journal entry was about the difference between HAVING faith and WALKING IN faith. I thought of the analogy of having a camera and actually using said camera. I can have faith that I can take great photographs with the camera, even though I have never taken it out of the box. But taking the camera out of the box, attaching a lens and shooting pictures would be more akin to walking in faith. I know that faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1), but I am attempting to give you a word picture. As I press the shutter button, there are all types of things happening inside my camera that I cannot see. My faith is that when I set the camera properly and focus the lens, the end result in a perfectly exposed and composed image.

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith and not by sight

Just as taking the camera out of the box and actually using it, faith requires some action on your part. You have to believe that you have it before you see it. Do you remember the days of film cameras? You were able to press the shutter to capture action as it happens. With digital cameras, there is a lag between when you press the shutter button and when the shutter opens to expose the image. You have to anticipate the moments that will be worth capturing...the "money shot." Sometimes you miss it, but on those occasions where you are spot on, you have an amazing photograph.


Like using a camera, or any other tool that requires  a modicum of skill, practice makes perfect. The more you practice walking by faith, the better you get at walking by faith. There are things we do daily by faith without seeing it as faith. You walk into your doctor's office, do you pick up a chair and turn it over to see if all the the nuts and bolts are tightened and there are no cracks or defects in the chair? No, you have faith that the chair is going to hold your body weight and you sit down. When you get into your car, put the key in the ignition and turn it, you have faith the car will start. When you step into an elevator, you have faith that it is in proper working order and will take you to the floor of your destination.


The Bible is full of examples of sick people being healed by their own faith. 

Luke 17:18-20

¹⁸ Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.


Perhaps the story you most remember about faith is the woman who suffered hemorrhaging for 12 years. She had spent all she had on doctors, only to get worse. This woman could have been put to death for being among the throng of people surrounding Jesus because she was considered unclean. Yet she took the risk, having the faith that if she could touch the hem of his garment, she would be made whole. (Mark 5:25-28)


Matthew 9:22
But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.

Luke 5:18-24

¹⁸  And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. ¹⁹ But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.²⁰ Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”

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So now it is time to exercise your faith muscles. Begin to believe God to work in a situation in which you have struggled. Our God is faithful.


I love You, Lord
Pamela