The Overflow of Belief

Welcome or welcome back, Sis! 💛

I pray that last week's devotional on dependence reminded you to release the pressure and the belief that you have to do it all on your own. My prayer is that you're learning to stop striving and instead lean on God, trusting Him rather than relying on what's in your own hands.

But here's what I keep thinking about: we already know this.

We've known it for years...some of us, even decades. We've heard sermons about depending on God. We've read the Scriptures. We've sung worship songs declaring that He is faithful and dependable.

If we truly know that God is dependable, why do we still grasp for control? Why do we still find ourselves consumed by worry, fear, and anxiety?

I believe the answer goes deeper than simply knowing about God. It's possible to know the truth intellectually while still struggling to believe it in the deepest places of our hearts. And that's exactly what we're going to unpack together.

Because the question isn't only: "Do you know that God can?"

The deeper question is: "Do you believe that He will?"

Today's devotional is titled, "The Overflow of Belief."

Belief is accepting something as true or real. It is having complete trust and confidence in someone or something, even when you do not have all the answers or tangible evidence in front of you.

Here’s the clearest and most relatable example:

As followers of Christ (also known as Believers), we have made the decision to believe that the Father sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day. We weren't physically present to witness these events, yet we believe them to be true because of God's Word. We also believe that because we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have been granted access to a relationship with God here on earth and for eternity.

The Word tells us that God the Father is Spirit, and that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man who came in the flesh. We believe both of these truths. Regardless of whether we were there to witness these events ourselves, we have chosen to believe in what we have not seen because it has been recorded in Scripture and supported through historical accounts.

Not only that, but if you’re like me, your belief may have begun with a divine pulling and a transformation in your heart that you knew was greater than yourself. It was a moment where you recognized God’s presence and responded to His invitation. For others, their belief may have grown through moments of hardship, tragedy, or even situations where their lives were at risk, and they realized it was only by God’s grace, protection, and mercy that they made it through. The list can go on when it comes to how we come to faith and begin believing in God. But regardless of the path, belief requires us to place our trust in the One we cannot always see, yet know to be real.

But going back to the original question: Why do we still struggle with belief when we know God is real? When we've seen Him show up time and time again? When we know He is who He says He is, yet doubt still finds a way to creep in?

Sis, you're not alone in this.

I've battled and still battle with doubt at times, especially during seasons filled with challenges, uncertainty, and waiting.

Here are 3 ways doubt quietly creeps in:

1. Delayed answers and discouragement

Seasons where God doesn't bring immediate answers or relief can leave us feeling lonely, worried, and discouraged. When you've been praying consistently and don't see any visible change, it's easy to wonder if God heard you. It can feel like nothing is moving, nothing is changing, and nothing is happening. Long seasons of waiting on God to answer and to fulfill a promise can become an open door for many fear-based questions, ultimately causing doubt.

2. Past disappointments

In this life, we all experience disappointment. We may be disappointed by people, unmet expectations, unexpected outcomes, or even ourselves. After enough disappointment, we often lower our expectations to protect ourselves from being hurt again.

Without realizing it, that mindset can begin to affect our relationship with God. We may know He is faithful, yet our confidence to expect His goodness begins to diminish because our past pain shapes our present perspective.

3. Past mistakes and failures

Our mistakes and failures can quietly convince us that we're unworthy of God's goodness. Shame whispers that because of our past, we don't deserve for God to move on our behalf.

But our past does not disqualify us from God's grace, His love, or His faithfulness.

Here's what I've come to realize, Sis, and maybe you will be able to relate.

It is often easier for me to believe in God's promises and His overflow for someone else than it is for myself. As if somehow, I am excluded from what God has spoken in His Word.

Somewhere along the way, I began believing that God's promises are true, but maybe they're just not true for me.

Not because I don't believe God is faithful or because I don't believe His Word is true.

But because disappointment, waiting, and shame have a way of making us question whether what God has promised really applies to us.

Can you relate to any of this?

If so, here are 5 ways we can address it:

1. Meditating on God’s Word and Promises

Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), and we strengthen our belief by continually reminding ourselves of what God has said. The Word includes everything we need to know about God and this walk of faith. We are able to gain a better understanding of His nature as One who is faithful, consistent, gracious, and kind.

Again, belief requires more than just an intellectual knowing. However, there is power in God’s Word, and the more we hear it and meditate on it, the more our belief and confidence in Him grows.

2. Reflecting on what we have seen the Lord do personally

All throughout Scripture, we see what the Lord has done, but again, we weren’t there. So, we must reflect on and remember what God has specifically done for us.

God’s past faithfulness helps us trust Him with what is still ahead. God has an undeniable track record, and we can find hope in remembering that He is the same God yesterday, today, and forevermore.

3. Spending time in His presence

As we draw closer to God, He reveals more of who He is, and this strengthens our confidence in Him. In seasons of delayed answers and waiting, spending time in prayer and worship keeps Him at the forefront rather than our circumstances and feelings. Prayer and worship are powerful safeguards against doubt because they strengthen our relationship with God, leading to deeper dependence and trust.

4. Surrendering the past

Our past mistakes and failures can trick us into believing that we are unworthy, disqualified, or that God’s goodness is somehow limited because of what we have done.

But we must remember that God’s promises are not based on our perfection. They are based on His character and faithfulness. Surrendering the past allows us to stop allowing shame to define our expectations of what God can do in our lives.

5. Being okay with no tangible evidence

One of the hardest parts of faith is trusting God when we cannot see the outcome yet. Our human nature often wants proof, confirmation, and visible evidence before we believe.

However, faith requires us to trust in who God is, even when we cannot see what He is doing. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see.

God’s promises do not become true when we see the evidence. They are true because He said them.

I think about the story of Mary and Elizabeth in Luke 1. Mary received a promise from God that seemed impossible from a human perspective. Yet, she chose to believe Him and responded with surrender, saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).

When Mary visited Elizabeth, Elizabeth declared, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her” (Luke 1:45).

Elizabeth recognized something powerful: Mary was blessed not only because of what God was going to do through her, but because she believed that God would do what He said He would do.

Sis, may we be reminded that our confidence is not found in what we can see, but in the character of the One who made the promise. The same God who was faithful to Mary is faithful to us. Even in seasons of waiting, uncertainty, and unanswered questions, we can choose to believe that God is working, God is faithful, and God is not finished. Know that you are blessed because you are His and because you believe.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being a faithful God who keeps every promise You have spoken. Thank You that Your character does not change, and that You are the same yesterday, today, and forevermore.

Lord, I surrender the areas of my life where doubt has taken root. Forgive me for the times I have allowed delayed answers, disappointment, fear, or past mistakes to make me question Your faithfulness.

Father, increase my faith in Your Word and help me hold tightly to Your promises despite what I see in the natural. Remove any shame that tells me I am unworthy of Your goodness, and remind me that my past does not disqualify me from Your love, Your grace, or Your promises.

Father, strengthen my belief so I can walk confidently in the overflow You have prepared for me. Thank You for every promise You have fulfilled, every promise You are fulfilling, and every promise You will fulfill throughout my life here on earth and into eternity.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Scriptures to meditate on this week:

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!” (Luke 1:45 NIV)

“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.’” (John 6:29 NIV)

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

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