Have Faith in God

Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely;
He sees and knows all the way you have trod.
Never alone are the least of His children;
Have faith in God, have faith in God.

Chorus:
Have faith in God, He’s on His throne;
Have faith in God, He watches o’er His own.
He cannot fail, He must prevail;
Have faith in God, have faith in God.

Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered;
Your earnest plea He will never forget.
Wait on the Lord trust His Word and be patient;
Have faith in God, He’ll answer yet. [Chorus]

Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow;
His heart is touched with your grief and despair.
Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him;
And leave them there, oh, leave them there. [Chorus]

Have faith in God though all else fail about you;
Have faith in God, He provides for His own.
He cannot fail though all kingdoms shall perish;
He rules, He reigns, upon His throne. [Chorus]

Written by one of my favorite hymn writers, B. B. McKinney, this particular hymn is based upon the passage of Scripture found in Mark Chapter 11 known as “The lesson of the withered fig tree.”  Jesus has come into Jerusalem triumphally in fulfillment of prophecy.  Jesus curses the unfruitful fig tree.  He then cleanses the temple and drives out the money changers, and then returns to the fig tree, and verse 20 reads “Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”  So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Jesus was teaching the disciples a lesson about faith – truly believing in God, His promises, and God’s ability to work in miraculous ways.  This same Peter who seemed surprised at the withered fig tree must have learned the lesson about faith because He is the same Peter who tells the lame man “Rise up and walk” in Acts Chapter 3.  Peter went from being a man of doubt and astonishment to a man of faith performing astonishing things for God.  He, by the power of the Holy Spirit, performed miraculous things as a testament to the mighty power of God.  He had faith in God.

Even though this particular hymn was written in the early 20th century, it’s encouragement is still for us today.  Despite circumstances, challenges, difficulties, and uncertainty, we are admonished to put our trust in God.  To hope in Him.  To have faith in God.  I hope that these words will encourage you to do that very thing.

Couple of thoughts about the lyrics:

• “The least of His children” – Have you ever felt like that?  That you were among the least of God’s children.  Yes, you know in your heart that you are part of God’s family, but you feel like God has “favorites.”  Others are being blessed, and your faith is being tested.  Others are doing well physically and testifying of God’s healing power, and you are struggling with ongoing sickness and pain.  Others seem to be Elijah on the mountain top and you are Jeremiah in the cistern.  The author of this hymn reminds us that God never leaves His children.  God doesn’t have favorite children.  If you have accepted Christ, you are His child.  Loved and accepted and adopted as a true son or daughter into His family.  Encourage yourself today with that thought.

• “When your prayers are unanswered” –  Another famous Oklahoman and songwriter, Garth Brooks, wrote a country song about being thankful for unanswered prayers back in the 1990’s.  In looking back on one’s life, I believe every Christian could be thankful for a few “unanswered” prayers.  We have prayed, and probably continue to pray for things where our motives are not always pure.  The Bible refers to this as “praying amiss” (James chapter 4).  Our prayers have gone unanswered because God knows what is best for us.  Other times God is not saying “No,” He is just saying “Not yet.”  In those times of waiting, we need to have faith in God.  We need to trust His timing.  We need to lean heavy upon His word and His promises.  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

• “Oh leave them there” – Isn’t that the hardest thing to do?  To cast all our cares upon Him, and then leave them alone.  To not run right back, pick them up and start the worrying process over again.  I think the author understood this dilemma.  This concept was so important that he repeated it – Leave them there, oh, leave them there.  It reminds me of another great hymn -“Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave it There.”  That song says “If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.  Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”  Another way of saying “Have faith in God.”

One of the struggles of this life is a constant battle of where to put your faith.  Put your faith in riches, and what inevitably happens?  Moth eats, rust destroys, and stock markets crash.  Put your faith in a certain type of government and what happens?  Men and women become corrupt.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.  Put your faith in yourself and what happens?  Disappointment.  I am once again reminded of Peter saying, “Lord, I will never deny you” and what did he do?  He failed himself and failed God.

But we can be people of faith — people with a confidence in God.  David writes in Psalm 20:6-7:

“Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. (FAITH IN GOD)

He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. (FAITH IN GOD)

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (FAITH IN GOD)

Can I encourage you today to have faith in God…and let the words of this hymn encourage you to do it?