Do You Believe?
Weekly devotional by Barbara Sanders

Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Can you remember when you were young, and your parents told you something - you believed them? But, if it didn't materialize, then you lost faith in them, for a time. Our belief in others is built through someone keeping their word. So, it's very important for us, as we bring up our children, to not say something we don't mean or tell them we will do something, if we don't have any intention of doing it. To believe means to have a strong faith, confidence or trust. That trust is built on honesty and being forthright. But life doesn't always hold the honesty that we would like. Many get married, saying the vows 'until death do us part'. Then, when the first little disagreement comes along, one of the partners is ready to get a divorce. Or, perhaps you have a job you love, and you fully trust the employer to be honest with you. Everything seems to be going fine, but, then, one day, you walk into work, and they say, "We don't need you any longer." You may have had a lifetime friendship with someone, but it ended with no apparent reason. All these things will make you lose confidence in yourself and the world around you. Spiritually speaking, our faith shouldn't reflect what others think, but how we see ourselves in the eyes of God. Some may say they 'believe', yet their faith might not get them out the church door, without the tongue speaking unbelief. The promises of God are made to the 'believers', so the unbelief of others would in no way reflect on what God has for those that fully trust in Him and His promises.

Heavenly Father, if there be any unbelief in me, help my unbelief. Teach me to trust you, regardless of circumstances the world hands me. You can surely change things! In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.