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In a few days I will be traveling with my oldest son to look at potential places where he might play college football. Like most players, he is an unknown entity to the college coaches because the vast majority of players are not elite athletes.
Each player seeking to play in college must begin a journey which may or may not result in their being able to play at the next level. As with all journeys in life, there are many forks and opportunities but limited amounts of time and capital to pursue them all. It is here where each person must employ either faith or hope.
I have heard it stated that hope walks through fire while faith leaps over it. When we hope for something we are turning over the control of the outcome to others and divorcing ourselves from the personal responsibility we have to shape our own destiny.
Mr. Webster defines faith as "confidence or trust in a person or thing or a belief not based on proof" whereas hope is defined as "an optimistic attitude of mind based on an expectation or desire." If we want to be in control of what we "hope for" then we need to act through faith.
Hope looks to the future. It is always future tense.
Faith is now. Faith says, “I’ll receive the answer right now. I have it now.” It is not hoping that gets the job done, it is believing. In Hebrews 11:1, we are taught, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Faith is the substance and the evidence which allows us to secure that for which we hope. When desiring anything we must first ask and pray to discern whether it is in accordance with what God wants for us. Faith grows out of the Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Next, we must activate our faith or it will never be realized.
I have faith my son will find a place where he can further his Christian education and play football. Through prayer God has placed people in his path to further this goal. God will continue to guide his process and he will land where God wants him to be and this will be accomplished because of his faith with action.
You see, faith says you have what you desire now. It does not mean you have to walk through the fire but can literally jump over it. Whether it is healing, prosperity, or playing football in college, trust in the Lord for all things as he welcomes the opportunity to come alongside each of us to fulfill our desires but we must first have faith and be willing to turn over the reins to him.
