Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where You lead
Give us faith to be strong
Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it’s hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong
Give us peace when we’re torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking
When there’s much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we’re torn
Give us hearts to find hope
Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom
And as hard as we try, Lord, it’s hard to believe
So, give us hearts to find hope
Lord, give us faith to be strong
Give us peace when we’re torn
Give us faith, faith to be strong
Singer / Songwriter: Andrew Peterson
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This song is a prayer—an acknowledgment of our great need for God in all things. As in every area of our lives, we need the help, the provision, the supply that only God can give. Even, maybe especially, regarding faith.
It is true that we need to have faith; no doubt. Jesus spoke often to His apostles and the other disciples about faith. In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5 we hear about the woman with a long-term bleeding disease who is healed simply by touching Jesus’ garments. It is an incredible record! Listen…
She had heard the reports concerning Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the throng and touched His garment, for she kept saying, ‘If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.’ And immediately her flow of blood was dried up at the source, and [suddenly] she felt in her body that she was healed of her [distressing] ailment.
verses 27-29
There is a pivotal point here: she believed—she had faith—that if she could just get close enough to simply touch Jesus’ clothing, she would be healed. Remember she “kept saying, ‘If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.’” And she took the action necessary.
Having faith requires action.
As I think about this scenario, it seems to me there were a number of strong deterrents standing in her way.
- The crowd
verse 24 tells us, “…a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him” - Her own physical frailty
verses 25 and 26 say she “…had been subject to bleeding for twelve years…had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and…instead of getting better she grew worse” - The social stigma of a woman touching a strange man in public
Verse 33 relates, “But the woman…though alarmed and frightened and trembling, fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.”
In spite of these things she took action because she believed “…the reports she had heard about Jesus…”. Sisters, put yourself in her sandals…would you (would I?) have had the courage, the fortitude, the faith to do what she did? I do believe we could…we would. I do believe we do.
Throughout our lives, we find ourselves experiencing similar circumstances and hard times. Right now, today, I know some of you are living through difficult, demanding, hard situations. Whether they are health-related (like this woman), or difficulties in relationships, or financial problems, or a myriad of other troubles…we need to have faith that God will take care of whatever might be our need. Our faith is based on our knowledge of His promises in His Word.
…So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:5
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
And without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists
and that He rewards those who seek Him.
Verse 6
We live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you
through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
According as His divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature…”
2 Peter 2:1-4
May we keep all these things in mind as we have faith in the Almighty God Who provides—Jehovah-Jireh.
- When we feel weak, may we ask for ‘strength to be faithful.’
- When we are weary, may we ask for ‘grace to go on.’
- When we are anxious, may we ask for ‘peace when we’re torn.’
- When we can’t see the way out or through or around or beyond, may we ask for ‘hearts to find hope.’
- When we feel we have nothing left, may we ask for ‘faith to be strong.’
We must always remember that there is no need we will ever have that He is not already aware of. He is the Eternal God our Provider—Jehovah-Jireh!
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O Lord, we recognize that we need Your help in everything. As the beautiful lyrics of this song sing out, we too ask You, Father, please give us faith to be strong…give us strength to be faithful…give us grace to go on…give us peace when we’re torn…give us hearts to find hope. We thank You, now in advance, for each of these things because we have already been given a measure of faith by Your grace and mercy. We have faith placing our confidence and trust in You, El Shaddai. And we pray all these things in Jesus’ precious and powerful Name. Amen.
