I.
What if the breakthrough you seek isn’t in asking for more faith but trusting the One who is always faithful?
As a triage RN, I can attest that an improper diagnosis can lead to serious consequences. Most critically, it can delay or prevent patients from promptly receiving appropriate care. Depending on the severity of the condition, this can result in complications, disability, or even death. That’s why accurate diagnosis is essential—it ensures that patients receive the correct treatment promptly and safely, minimizing risks and improving outcomes.
I say this because perhaps we don't need to pray for more faith but rather ask the Lord to reveal the area of our unbelief.
If we are honest, we often pray to increase our faith, which is quite telling about what we heard from Jesus and actually believe about what He said 👉🏾 “…if you have faith as a 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 17:20.
She stopped asking for greater faith and prayed for Him to heal her unbelief. Then, she experienced wholeness and a peace that flowed effortlessly.
My point is 👉🏾 When we have the proper diagnosis, we can receive the appropriate Antidote.
People wonder why I talk about Jesus, the Cross, and the faith so much. He is the Substance, and the Cross of Christ continues to transform my life radically. It was the mercy of God that allowed me to see my need for Him. It was His grace that allowed me to respond to His advances. And ever since, it has been an intricate dance in His garden where He holds me close, ever so close to Him, where I am swept up in His arms, looking into His eyes, and fed on every word He says.
I make mention of the importance of Salvation’s call because it is not a light thing, for the word reads, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…”John 6:44… And “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” John 15:16.
The miracle of salvation is stunning. It leaves me reeling each time I think about it. When we received Jesus, our lives as we knew them ceased to exist, and His life became our very own. Our salvation is robust and shapes how we think, what we say, and how we live.
The word says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8. Let this verse sink in. Take a moment.
Breathe in: By grace through faith,
Breathe out: I have been saved.
—Stay here as long as you need.
II.
The question becomes one of esteeming the value of the Gift. Do we continue to see Salvation as our greatest need? And if so, why do we fret about things in life?
I guess what I mean is, why do we allow the world to entangle us with things the Lord is provision for? The apostle Paul said it this way,
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32.
Honestly, if we are going to wrestle with anything, maybe let it be this because at least we are wrestling with the root and not the fig leaves longer.
And friends, please don't take my words to mean that we won't wrestle in this life or that wrestling is “inherently bad” because Jesus is there. He is absolutely there and loves us in it and through it. I mentioned this recently: We often are excited to consider Jacob’s wrestling with God because we identify with it—the struggle is real. And yet we forget the end result: His name was changed to Israel, and he walked differently, that's for sure.
When God moves, and we see it, it isn't for us to only see His hand but to bear witness to His heart, mind, and will. It is a glimpse of heaven and a way to heal our minds. And it isn't just for that moment, but for future moments to see situations in life with heaven's perspective.
One of the most powerful, honest, and bold prayers recorded in Scripture was impressed upon my heart this season👉🏾“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”Mark 9:24.
Breathe in: LORD,
Breathe out: Help my unbelief.
—Stay here as long as you need.
III.
One final note. For those who desire great faith, it isn't far off. It’s not something elusive. Our Abba Father isn't like that. He doesn't withhold things from us to be unkind. It is His tender mercies and protection that we don't get some of the things we pray for at the time we ask. But one last thing with regard to “great faith,” Jesus gave us the example in His word.
Remember the Centurion’s words, “Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Luke 7:7.
Jesus marveled, and God is so very pleased when we believe Him.
When we agree (Amen) with what He has said, like Mary, “Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38.
Faith is not about accumulation—it’s about alignment. The breakthrough we seek is not in striving for more faith but in surrendering to Jesus as Lord and God.
Like the centurion, Mary, and the father in Mark 9, great faith is not measured by quantity but by its placement: in the Person of Jesus with confidence in His word. When we allow God to expose the areas where unbelief lingers, we invite Him to heal us at the root.
Since salvation is our greatest need, everything else pales in comparison. What remains is trust—not in our ability to believe harder but rather in what Christ has accomplished.
When we surrender to Jesus, we realize faith is no longer something we chase—faith becomes the response to seeing Him rightly.
Happy February, Beloved! Let’s resolve to live healed.
IV. Seven Biblical Journal Prompts for Reflection
1. Faith vs. Unbelief – Mark 9:24
• Where do I see unbelief in my life masquerading as a lack of faith? How can I invite Jesus to heal my unbelief rather than striving for more faith?
2. The Gift of Salvation – Ephesians 2:8-9
• Do I live daily with the awareness that my salvation is the greatest gift I’ve ever received? How does this truth change the way I respond to trials and blessings?
3. Hearing God Clearly – John 10:27
• Am I positioning myself to hear God’s voice, or am I waiting for an answer that aligns with my own desires? How can I better listen for His leading?
4. Agreeing with God – Luke 1:38 & Luke 7:7
• How can I cultivate a heart like Mary and the Centurion, simply believing God’s Word and responding, “Let it be to me according to Your word”?
5. Faith That Moves Mountains – Matthew 17:20
• What “mountains” am I fixated on in my life? How does Jesus’ promise about mustard-seed faith challenge my understanding of what’s truly required to move them?
6. Resting in God’s Provision – Romans 8:32
• If God has already given me Jesus, what does this reveal about His willingness to provide for me in other areas? How can I shift from worry to trust in His provision?
7. Wrestling Well – Genesis 32:24-28
• Jacob wrestled with God and walked away changed. How have my struggles shaped me? Am I resisting transformation, or am I allowing God to rename and refine me in the wrestle?
May these prompts lead you into deeper communion with God, moving from mere reflection to an active faith that surrenders unbelief and embraces the Truth.
V. Scripture Reference
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.””Genesis 32:24-30.
“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a 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 17:20.
“Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38.
“Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Luke 7:7.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27.
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.-
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