Have you ever had a “prove it” moment with God? Maybe you were asking Him for confirmation that you were making the right decision. Maybe you were begging to see His miraculous power. Maybe you were doubting His character and needed Him to reveal Himself to you. I’ll be the first to raise my hand and say I’ve been in all three of these situations with God before.
If I’m honest, these questions are often asked out of selfish motives. I can get wrapped up into thinking that God needs to work in the way I think He should work. I’m quick to dismiss out of fear, anxiety, and frustration what He’s already asked me to do. In these moments, I blame God for not speaking “louder and clearer” instead of paying attention to His still, small voice.
There are times God does speak to us loud and clear. But God most often speaks to me quietly and tenderly when I take the time and space to be still and listen. When God speaks, it takes faith to do what He says.
The biblical definition of faith is, “trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove.” An example of faith in Scripture is with Joseph. He discovers that Mary is pregnant before they are married, and he knows the child is not his. Before hearing from God, Joseph makes a plan to divorce Mary quietly. But an angel appears to him and tells him that Mary has been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and she will give birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world.
I can only imagine the fear, doubt, and confusion Joseph felt in that moment. What does Joseph do? Instead of relying on his fears, Joseph obeys the Lord. He demonstrates faith by trusting in what the angel tells him, even though he can’t prove it to be true yet. Joseph doesn’t ask God to prove Himself, but rather, he obeys what God tells him to do immediately.
The birth of Christ is one of the greatest miracles in Scripture. What humility it took for Jesus to come into the world as an infant baby, in the lowliest of circumstances. Jesus’ birth demonstrates His humility to come to earth, fully God and fully man in order to relate to and save mankind.
The world was expecting Jesus to come triumphantly as a warrior king, but God had another plan. Jesus perfectly fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies about Him in order to prove He is the Son of God.
God also wanted people to come to know Jesus through faith in Him, not simply a result of seeing His power. God has always been after the hearts of men. In Christ’s humility, He draws people near to Him and invites them into a never-ending relationship with Him.
If you’ve made the decision to place your faith in Jesus, you are sealed in Him. God remains with you, living in your heart, through His Spirit. Is there something He is asking you to do that you can pay attention to? How can you live in faith and obedience to God? I encourage you to find time and space today to be still and listen to God’s voice. He loves you, and He’s near to you. The next time you’re tempted to ask Him to prove Himself, reflect on what He’s already said to you through His Word, His Spirit, and His people.
