Facing the Facts With Faith

In Romans 4:19 it says, “Abraham was almost a hundred years old, much past the age for having children, and Sarah could not have children. Abraham thought about all this, but his faith in God did not become weak.” (NCV)

Sometimes people mistakenly believe that faith means ignoring the facts. But nothing could be further from the truth!

Abraham understood this: “Abraham was almost a hundred years old, much past the age for having children, and Sarah could not have children. Abraham thought about all this, but his faith in God did not become weak” (Romans 4:19 CEV).

Abraham was 99 years old; his wife was 89. It was medically impossible for them to have children. He didn’t deny the facts. He faced them with faith.

Faith doesn’t ignore reality. It doesn’t pretend there isn’t a problem. Faith is facing the facts in your life without being discouraged by them.

There are some who believe that they should deny their problems and just smile their way through life. But that’s not the way of Jesus.

Faith will never ask you and I to deny reality. It’s not living in denial. It’s not clinging to the past. Faith is not stubborn foolishness.

We may need to do some legitimate grieving for a diagnosis that we haven’t wanted to admit or a dream for our lives that won’t take place.

But we don’t need to have a pity party. Instead, be honest with God and say, “It didn’t turn out like I wanted, but I know you have a better plan for my life.”

That’s what faith looks like. God isn’t done with our lives. God has good things in store! We can face the facts and choose not to be discouraged by them.

When she was young, author and Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom was engaged to be married. All of a sudden, the man broke up with her and married a friend. She was devastated. She never got married and ended up going through life as a single woman.

Corrie Ten Boom didn’t pull herself into a shell. She redirected her love. She became one of the most loving Christian leaders of the 20th century, influencing millions of people.

Once we face the facts, there are some things we can do to improve them, such as getting out of debt, making wise money choices and preparing for our future incomes.

She only did that because she refused to deny the facts. She trusted God and loved others through her faith. We can do the same.

For me, grieving is not the same as a pity party.  Grieving is experiencing and walking through the loss of something, and this in not only loved ones, but dreams and preconceived expectations.  A pity party is just pouting, complaining or holding a grudge over what I wanted but didn’t or will never get. 

Personally I have a medical diagnosis that will be with me for life.  It affects me physically, but with some really expensive medication I can cope and have a somewhat normal life. However, I’ll need to adjust my life and finances towards the reality of needing this expensive medication. As I consider retirement in the future I will need to adjust my finances and spending plans to match this reality.  But even with this, I know God has a plan for me, and I can share my story and experience with others sharing the same type of situation.

Also I find that facts are my friend. While the facts may not be what I want them to be, it helps deal with the reality and helps me prepare and not experience anxiety or depression.  This too is something I can use to help others face their important facts with faith.  

Learning to Face the Facts With Faith

In 2 Corinthians 4:18 I read, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (NIV)

When I’m chasing a dream God has given me, I’ll inevitably hit a place where it seems things are out of my control and there’s no way out. Short of a miracle from God, it’s a hopeless situation. I’m in the dead-end phase of God growing my faith.

When I hit a dead end, I need to face the facts with faith.

The worst thing I can do at a dead end is pretend there isn’t a problem. Having faith doesn’t mean that I deny reality. Faith isn’t saying, “I’m not in pain” when, in fact, I am. It’s not saying, “I don’t hurt” when I really do. It’s not saying, “I’m happy” when I’m grieving. That’s not faith. That’s phoniness! 

Faith is facing the facts without being disheartened by them, because I know God is greater than the problem. 

There is a brand of Christianity that basically says to deny all of our problems. Just have a positive confession. Name it and claim it. But that kind of thinking doesn’t come from Jesus. It’s more reflective of Pollyanna, a fictional character whose unrealistic view of life only sees the positive while completely ignoring anything negative. Pollyanna is not exactly a good theologian. 

When I have faith, I don’t have to deny reality. Faith is facing reality without being discouraged by it. When I have faith, I know that God can change a situation. 

I can’t build a family on a Pollyanna fantasy—but I can build your family on faith. I can’t build a business on fantasy—but I can build a business on faith. I can’t build a life on fantasy—but I can build my life on faith. 

To do that requires that I look beyond my circumstances: “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen [the problem] is temporary, but what is unseen [God’s power] is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV).

If I look at the world, I’m going to be distressed; there are problems everywhere! If I look within, I’m going to be depressed, because there are a lot of things that need changing in my life. But if I look at Jesus Christ, I’ll be at rest. What I focus on shapes what my reality looks like. 

When I start looking at my problem, I’m sunk. But if I look at Jesus—if I look toward my Deliverer rather than the difficulty—then I’ll make it. 

In summary, the things that are seen won’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. So keep my mind on those things that cannot be seen. Learn to see troubles as opportunities. There is purpose in our suffering. Afterall, the ultimate hope is that this life is not all there is. 

Knowing that I will live forever with God, can help me live above the pain I face in this life. I can handle an enormous amount of frustration, delay, and pain as long as I have hope. But when hope is gone, people give up. Jesus offers the only hope that is eternal and I need the right perspective to understand the hope found in Jesus. 

So I shouldn’t just look at what’s going on right now, rather I need to focus on the eternal. Difficulties don’t last. But hope in God will. No matter what my circumstances are, they are temporary. No problem comes to stay in my life. It will pass. Even if it is a lifelong chronic problem, because I won’t take it into eternity. So don’t shuffle along, absorbed with the things right in front of me. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective” My hope in Christ will become a hope fulfilled. 

It’s Smart to Be Patient

In Proverbs 14:29 I read, “It’s smart to be patient.” (CEV)

My life has an ebb and flow. Sometimes God wants me to move quickly, but sometimes he wants me to slow down. As Proverbs 14:29 says, “It’s smart to be patient” (CEV).

First, I should always move slowly when I don’t have all the facts. Our culture worships impulsiveness and spontaneity. It tells me that spur-of-the-moment, “gut” decisions are the right ones.

I also hear repeatedly that I should “follow my heart.” But the Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).

Feelings often lead me in the wrong direction. So I need to rely on the truth outside of myself.

The Bible is clear about that: “What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!” (Proverbs 18:13 TLB).

So when I don’t yet have all the facts, slow down. Don’t rely on my gut, heart, or feelings. Take the time to look for objective truth outside of myself.

Second, move slowly when I’m hurt, angry, or depressed. When I’m upset, I tend to react and retaliate rather than acting wisely.

James 1:19 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (NIV).

Do you see the rhythm in that verse? It says quick, slow, slow. If I’m quick to listen and slow to speak, I’ll automatically be slow to become angry. But if I’m slow to listen and quick to speak, I’ll be quick to become angry.

Proverbs 15:18 tells me what to do instead: “Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments” (CEV).

Proverbs 15:28 says it this way: “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking” (NLT). In other words, godly people put their minds in gear before their mouths.

Sometimes I’m going to feel angry, hurt, or depressed. That’s just part of life. But the next time that happens, slow down. Proverbs 14:29 says, “Patience leads to abundant understanding, but impatience leads to stupid mistakes” (CEB).

Don’t make quick decisions that I’m going to regret.

And the same is true when I don’t have all the facts. Instead of just “following my heart,” take the time to slow down and make a careful decision.

Remember: It’s smart to be patient.

In summary, life has an ebb and flow. Sometimes God wants me to move quickly, but sometimes he wants me to slow down. No matter if its quick or slow, It’s smart to be patient. First, I should always move slowly when I don’t have all the facts. Our culture worships impulsiveness and spontaneity. It tells me that spur-of-the-moment, “gut” decisions are the right ones. I also hear repeatedly that I should “follow my heart.” But as God’s Word tells me, “The heart is deceitful above all things,” Feelings often lead me in the wrong direction. So I need to rely on the truth outside of myself. Also God’s Word says, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!”. So when I don’t yet have all the facts, slow down. Don’t rely on my gut, heart, or feelings. Take the time to look for objective truth outside of myself. Second, move slowly when I’m hurt, angry, or depressed. When I’m upset, I tend to react and retaliate rather than acting wisely. James reminds me to “be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”. If I’m quick to listen and slow to speak, I’ll automatically be slow to become angry. In addition “losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments”. “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking”. “put your mind in gear before their your mouth. Sometimes I’m going to feel angry, hurt, or dep, ressed. That’s just part of life. The next time that happens, slow down. Proverbs 14:29 says, “Patience leads to abundant understanding, but impatience leads to stupid mistakes”. Don’t make quick decisions that I’m going to regret. The same is true when I don’t have all the facts. Instead of just “following my heart,” take the time to slow down and make a careful decision. Remember: It’s smart to be patient.

A quick temper can be like a fire out of control. It can burn me and everyone else in its path. Anger divides people. It pushes me into hasty decisions that only cause bitterness and guilt. Yet anger, in itself, is not wrong. Anger can be a legitimate reaction to injustice and sin. When I feel myself getting angry, look for the cause. Am I reacting to an evil situation that I'm going to set right? Or am I responding selfishly to a personal insult?  I pray that God will help me control my quick temper, channeling my feelings into effective action and conquering selfish anger through humility and repentance.  

Learn to Be Wise and Wait for the Whole Story

In Proverbs 18:13 I read, “What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!" (TLB)

To be wise in today’s information saturated society, I need two vital qualities: sound judgment and discernment. That means I learn God’s wisdom from God’s Word and then apply it to everything. I filter information and make decisions through what God has told me to do in Scripture.

Too many gullible Christians are willing to believe anything they hear or read on social media, whether that’s a news story or gossip about a friend. They don’t stop and question; they just automatically accept anything that fits within their bias.

I shouldn’t throw away my common sense. I shouldn’t be gullible and believe everything I hear. That causes conflict.

Proverbs 3:21 says, ”Do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion” (NIV).

Just like it’s important to get an accurate picture of things I see or hear online, I also need to get an accurate picture in my relationships. Without all the information I need, jumping to conclusions leads to quick tempers and arguments. To lower the anger factor and have harmony with others, I must learn to reserve judgment until I know all the facts and understand the whole story.

Instead, choose to “preserve sound judgment.” Hold onto it. Don’t quickly throw it out or get rid of it. Keep a firm grip on it, as if the health of your relationships depends on it—because it does!

The Bible says, “What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!” (Proverbs 18:13 TLB)

Don’t be quick to condemn or criticize. Don’t assume I know people’s motivation, because I probably don’t. Don’t decide before knowing all the facts.

When I wait for the whole story, I develop the compassion to love well and become more like Jesus.

In summary, its a shame and stupid to decide before knowing all the facts. In order to be wise in today’s information saturated society, I need two vital qualities: sound judgment and discernment. I learn God’s wisdom from God’s Word and then apply it to everything. I filter information and make decisions through what God has told me to do. Too many (including myself at times) are willing to believe anything they hear or read on social media. I don’t stop and question; I just automatically accept anything that fits within my bias. But this verse reminds me that I shouldn’t throw away my common sense, be gullible and believe everything I hear. Just like it’s important to get an accurate picture of things I see or hear online, I also need to get an accurate picture in my relationships. Without all the information, jumping to conclusions leads to quick tempers and arguments. I need to learn to reserve judgment until I know all the facts and understand the whole story. Instead, choose to “preserve sound judgment.” Hold onto it. Don’t quickly throw it out or get rid of it. Keep a firm grip on it, Don’t be quick to condemn or criticize. Don’t assume I know people’s motivation, because I probably don’t. Don’t decide before knowing all the facts. When I wait for the whole story, I develop the compassion to love well and become more like Jesus.

So I need to get the facts before making any decision. Seek additional information. There are three basic principles for making sound decisions: (1) Get the facts before making any decision; (2) be open to new ideas; (3) make sure I hear both sides of any story before judging. All three of these things center around seeking additional information. This is difficult work, but the only alternative is prejudice, judging before getting the facts.