“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,  because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”  Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.  Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.  He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Mark 5:25-34

Most of us are, no doubt, very familiar with this story.  This woman, exhausted of all resources, tired of the fight – comes to Jesus as her last resort.  And BAM! she is instantly healed due to her faith.  I love this story.  It gives me reason to believe in miracles.  And yet…

I find myself envious of this woman’s unfailing faith.  I sometimes think to myself, “If I only had a faith that strong…” then I might not worry so much.  Then my prayers might be answered.  Then I might see God working in my life.

But let’s face it.  Sometimes seeing is believing.  And I have no doubt that this woman had actually seen some of the miracles and healings Jesus had performed.  Why wouldn’t her faith be resolute after those experiences?

Maybe you are like me, thinking, “If I saw Jesus do those things, I would have the faith too.”  But we just have to be satisfied with hearing the stories, don’t we friends?  Actually…no.

As believers and followers of our risen Lord, I believe we see miracles and answered prayers every day.  I believe we dismiss them, look over them, and forget them.  But they are still happening.

Consider this: have you ever prayed to God and been clearly convinced that He had heard and answered?  Maybe you needed help, or guidance, or protection, or provision.  Maybe someone you cared for needed something and you were moved to pray for them.  I will bet you have.  If you hadn’t, you most likely wouldn’t be reading this post.

My issue with faith is not that God never moves in my life.  It is that I, like the Israelites, forget rather quickly.  I have issues and problems that I take to God all the time.  But once He resolves them for me, life takes over with other issues and obligations – and I very easily forget His gracious intervention.  Then another problem crops up and I have doubts if He will help me.  I worry.  I pray.  And I question whether He will answer me.  Then the cycle starts over.  Sound familiar?

Each of us are on a different faith journey.  However, the following practice has served me well over the years when it comes to strengthening and maintaining my trust in His faithfulness.  I share it with you, hoping that it might help you as well.

I write it down!  Yes, revolutionary I know.  But it actually works.  When I have an encounter with God – an answered prayer, an unexpected grace, a word or message – I write it down so I don’t forget it.  Simple.  And yet so vital to my faith journey.

So when I have a really bad problem, one that I am praying and worrying over, I don’t have to wonder if God is going to help me.  I go back to my journal and re-read all the entries affirming His faithfulness to me.  And I remember those times in which I have gone to Him and been received with open arms.  And I don’t worry any more.  He holds me securely in His victorious right hand; always has, always will.  My book says so.  And my spirit resonates with the stories written in my own handwriting.

Now, you have probably figured out, I personally keep a journal.  But that isn’t the only way to leave myself reminders.  I challenge you to find something that works for you: journaling, sticky notes, even notes on your phone would work.  The main thing that I work toward is having a way to look back easily at my past encounters with God and be encouraged by them.  I believe that you too would find that we “see” God much more than we realize.  And by “seeing” we can more easily believe.

Heavenly Father,

Forgive us when we miss Your work in our lives.  Help us to see Your movements on our behalf, and to save those instances up in our hearts.  Bless us, each one, with a spiritual discernment.  And help us to be aware of Your presence and unending faithfulness every day.  Give us unwavering faith and confidence that You hear our prayers.  And teach us to live as the beloved children we are.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen