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Have you ever been through a really tough time and wondered, "God, why is this happening to me?" Or maybe you're in a situation right now where you have to decide if you'll keep trusting God, no matter what happens. This is what I call an "even if" moment. It's when your faith is tested, and you have to decide if you'll still believe in God, even if things don't go your way. 

Let's look at what "even if" faith looks like. 

Picture in your mind, a small village in rural Kenya. My team and I were there, sharing about Jesus. After showing a movie about the life and ministry of Jesus, we met a man who owned the local market. He was a very religious Muslim, but that night, he chose to follow Jesus! 

But then, he looked at the local pastor and said, "You stole my son from me!" It turns out, three years earlier, this man's son had also chosen to follow Jesus. His dad gave him a terrible choice: Jesus or his family. The son chose Jesus, moved away, and became a pastor himself. 

Back at the market, the pastor called the man’s son, who was now in the U.S. For the first time in three years, the father and son talked. And the father was able to tell his son the amazing news: he had also accepted Jesus! 

Both the father and the son showed incredible "even if" faith: 

  • Even if my family turns away from me... 
  • Even if my friends disown me... 
  • Even if my community rejects me... 
  • Even if my life is taken from me... 

They were saying, "Even if, Lord, I will have strong faith in You." 

The Bible tells us about three young men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They showed their “even if” faith when they refused to bow down to a gold statue of King Nebuchadnezzar, even though it meant being thrown into a blazing hot furnace. 

They bravely told the King: "Our God is able to save us... But even if he does not, we want you to know, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18) 

Notice those powerful words: "But even if he does not." That's what "even if" faith is all about. They knew God could save them, but they weren't sure if He would. Yet, they still stood firm. Their faith was steady and strong, despite the danger. 

Though I’ve never faced the threat of being thrown into a fiery furnace, I've had my own "even if" moment. I used to be an emergency room nurse, a job I loved. But I hurt my back and couldn't do that kind of nursing anymore. At first, I kept asking, "Why, God, why did this happen to me?" But then I had to shift my thinking to an "even if" mindset: 

  • Even if you don't completely heal me, God, I will trust in you. 
  • Even if I can't go back to the job I love, I will trust in you. 
  • Even if our money situation changes, I will trust in you. 

When I started saying "even if" instead of "why," my whole outlook changed. I realized I needed to trust that God had a plan, even if I didn't understand it yet. 

Even Jesus faced an "even if" moment. Just before He was arrested and eventually sentenced to death on a cross, He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42). He was basically saying, "God, even if you don't take this hard path away from me, I will follow your will." 

So, how can we develop this kind of strong, "even if" faith? 

  • Know God's Story: Reading the Bible shows us how faithful and powerful God is. 
  • Trust His Plan: Hope God will do wonderful things, but trust Him if His plan is different from what we expect. 
  • Stay Strong: When we see God's hand in our lives, it helps us believe He knows what's best for us. 

Think about your life today. If God says no to your hopes and dreams, will you still trust Him? If God says no to your plans for the future, will you still serve Him? If God says no when you're crying and praying for someone you love, will you still follow Him?   

We don't always know how our "even if" faith will play out. But it's about saying, "I have faith in God, even if He doesn’t answer my prayers the way I want." 

Maybe you're asking "Why, God, why?" right now, or maybe you're in the middle of your own "even if" moment. Take a moment to pray and lay your worries down. Ask God to strengthen your faith so you can truly say, "Even if, God, even if, I will trust You." 

PRAYER:  Dear God, thank you for being a God I can trust, no matter what. Help me to have "even if" faith, to believe in your goodness even when things are hard. Strengthen me to follow your plan, even when I don't understand it. Amen. 

REFLECTION:  What is one area of your life right now where you are struggling to say "even if" to God?  What would it take for you to fully trust in God’s plan? 

 

Did today's blog post resonate with you? If you have thoughts to share or want to explore these ideas further, Pastor Vic would be happy to connect. You can reach out to him directly at victor@connectdinners.org.