Does asking God for a miracle indicate great faith or a lack of faith? Interesting question, isn’t it?
Some argue that continually asking God for miracles demonstrates great faith. After all, they are assuming and expecting God to always do the supernatural and the miraculous. So, that must indicate great faith, right? Well, not necessarily. I want to submit to us that asking God for a miracle may not indicate great faith; it may indicate a lack of faith.
Consider these words from Jesus: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah” (Matthew 16:4 NASB). Jesus knew the hearts of the people, and He condemned those who insisted on miracles. He knew that many would have to “see” in order to believe and trust Him. But, that’s not real faith.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Did you catch that - not seen? Faith believes and trusts God without seeing a physical sign or miracle. Faith is not presumptuous. It does not presume that it’s always God’s will to heal our sicknesses or to provide miraculous deliverance from our trials.
At times we tend to prefer the miracle to the miracle worker, don’t we? To say it another way, we tend to place more value on what God can do for us than on God Himself. The Bible calls this idolatry. God warned against it by refusing to be an on demand miracle worker (Jer. 2:11-13). As a Christian, a true follower of Christ, we realize that God is more precious to us than His provisions are for us.
Sometimes the greatest act of faith is not to ask for a miracle. The greatest act of faith may be to just believe and trust God and leave the outcome to Him. Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, from the Old Testament. These three Hebrew children faced the fiery furnace because of their obedience to God. They expressed their faith by telling king Nebuchadnezzar: “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Dan. 3:17-18). They were confident in God’s ability to deliver them, yet they chose to believe and trust and leave the outcome to Him. This, rather than ask God for a miracle, was a greater demonstration of faith.
Do you have faith without question? Do you believe and trust God so completely that you can say, “I know that my God is able to deliver me from this sickness or situation. But, even if He does not, He is still God and He will never leave me!”?
Let me pray for you: Father in heaven, I pray for the one reading this article. Strengthen their faith; may it not waiver or falter without sight. Give them faith without question. May they realize that You are greater than any sickness or situation they may be facing. Thank You for who You are and not just for what You do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
By: Brett W. Marlowe
