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3 seconds left. We were down by two. The play was to pass it to me on the sideline and shoot the three for the win.
I had taken that shot a thousand times or more. We had practiced this play multiple times. There were people counting on me.
I felt the ball make contact with my hands. For a moment, it was as if time had slowed down. My heart was racing. All I had to do was take the shot. My defender was far enough away, she wouldn’t block it.
Doubt.
I panicked.
It was too much pressure.
I passed it back to the point and, confused, she threw it up, knowing it was pointless. The buzzer went off, the ball clanging off the board.
We lost.
All eyes were like daggers on me. I was the one that cost us the game. Every word our coach yelled in the locker room, I knew was meant for me. He was only pointing out what I knew to be true. I could have made that. But not unless I tried. He believed in me. He had coached me, helped to develop me into a better player and person, but in the end, I had to be the one to step up and play like I knew I could.
No one could have been more angry or frustrated at me than I was at myself.
Take the shot. That’s all I had to do. But I had no faith in myself and it cost us greatly.
“And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.”
Luke 9:37-42
Why couldn’t the disciples heal this boy? Not long ago, Jesus had sent them out and they were able to do great miracles, but now, they failed.
Jesus’ words seem harsh at first, almost like that of a coach. But what fueled those words? Jesus knew what power these men had because He had given it to them. So why couldn’t they deliver this boy from these evil spirits?
They lacked faith.
Jesus used this moment to point out to them how important faith would be in their lives and for all future believers. Without faith, our works will be nothing.
Do we believe in the power of God? Do we believe that it was mighty enough to create the world, the sun, the moon, the stars? Do we believe in God’s power to not only send His Son into this world through the womb of a virgin, but to raise Him from the dead after three days? Do we believe in His power to save us?
Where is our faith?
That same power lives within us as believers and followers of Christ. It equips us for the work ahead, to go and share the gospel and make disciples.
Where is our faith?
That same power that created the universe is also in control of it. He knows all that’s happening today and what’s to come tomorrow. Nothing surprises Him. So why do we doubt Him with our future? Why do we doubt He has good intentions for us?
Where is our faith?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Faith. Do you have it?
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