How dare you say, out of your mouth, that God isn’t answering your prayers when you’ve yet to work your faith. God told you to trust Him to make your ends meet but then the enemy showed up and you got that check advance anyway. Now, you’re crying because you forgot about it and it hit your account and it’s overdrawn. You got the audacity to part your lips and move your tongue to form a sound of doubt, to the power of God, when you’re still sitting in the place He told you to depart from months ago? You laugh at anybody who testifies on the goodness of a God who uses us in spite of our flaws because “you” say He didn’t come to your rescue when you were lost. But have you stopped to think, maybe you missed it because you weren’t in tune to hear His voice? Beloved, God does what God does but what are you doing? Some years ago, I was in a place of frustration and anger because I could not figure out why things kept happening to us. Why can I not get my head above water? I’m going to church every Sunday with my bible and notepad and it’s filled with what pastor said but I’m still suffering. I’m working with the youth and showing up when needed but I’m still in a desolate place.
Then it donned on me, my faithfulness was good but there was no work being done. Yeah, I looked busy to the person on the outside looking in, but my work was dead. Yes, I was showing up for service but I didn’t have a sacrifice. I was devoted to the church but there was no devotion to God. I was a faithful worker but not a fruitful worshipper. My faith was without works. Oh but now, when God tells me to trust Him, I do while working my faith. Even when I cannot see how this little is going to last until payday, I work my faith. When it seems like I will not get well, I work my faith. When it feels like everybody is against me, I work my faith. When the enemy is knocking on my door, I work my faith. When trouble shows up, I work my faith. How? By standing still (that’s not trying to fix it) and trusting God. By getting up, getting dressed and walking with my head held high when all I want to do is crawl into the nearest dark hole. By wearing my $5 dress and $7 shoes, acting as if I got millions in the bank. By acting like royalty while still shopping at the Dollar Tree and Goodwill. Why? Because I am working my faith. What are you doing? “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26
Lakisha, the Author 