Weak Faith – Mature Faith

Isaiah 1:17–19; John 1:1–5; Colossians 1:15–17

O Lord, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! As You caused to be written in the Holy Scriptures, we have come to know through the history of the saints that You are the One who listens to the prayers of mere human beings like us. Today, through the meditation of Your Word, grant us the discerning wisdom to understand how we ought to pray in Your holy presence. We ask this in the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

We know from God’s Word and its detailed accounts that God listens to all prayers and fulfills them. However, in our actual experience, the results often appear different. Based on experience, it sometimes feels as though God does not hear many prayers.

Between these two realities—the Scripture’s declaration and personal experience—believers are being crushed. While Scripture says all prayers are answered, the experience often suggests otherwise. Some in the world ask: "If God hears prayer, then why are some not answered?"

This confusion often stems from a lack of understanding of God’s Word, or improper listening and interpretation, leading to much spiritual struggle and confusion. This is a very serious matter.

For instance, consider something that happened yesterday. A young girl had been sick for 2 or 3 years. The people here comforted and encouraged her, and according to their prayers, she is now living. When someone declares, "You shall not die," based on the Word of God, one may ask—was that teaching true? Is the Word true? Or is experience the truth?

When such questions arise, believers begin to waver. At such a moment, Satan comes and accuses: "What has become of your Bible? What of your teachings? What of your prayers?" When these thoughts enter, the resolution you made based on God’s Word begins to collapse. At that point, the believer starts thinking, "My experience is more real than Scripture." Thus, the believer is caught between conflicting voices.

A sick person prays. The entire church prays for him. But when there is no visible result or immediate answer, some mockingly ask, "Were all these prayers in vain?"

From one side, the unbeliever attacks, and from the other, the devil accuses, crushing the believer in the middle. If an unbeliever comes and asks, "What happened to your prayers?" the believer has no answer. This is how the believer is being crushed.

But examine what your resolution contains: it includes teaching, biblical exposition, prayer, and testimony. So, what is the core of the matter? Your decision must consist of two key parts:

1. Before you pray, purify your heart.
2. Then, pour out all your soul’s desires and pain—not according to your own will, but in tears before the Lord.
3. After that, pray saying, “Father! Let Your will be done.” Your heart must bow before God, saying, “I have told You what is in my heart, now You fulfill what is in Yours.”

Such a person, after praying like this, will have great peace and joy in their heart. A mature believer comes out of the prayer room with the joy and assurance: “I have said everything I had to say before my Father.” This is what is called mature faith.

On the other hand, the weak believer says, “I cannot accept God’s will.” This is the difference between weak faith and mature faith.

The Prayer of Two Wills

Jesus Christ, while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, revealed two parts in His prayer:

1. "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me."
2. "Yet not my will, but Yours be done."

Though He spoke as one with weak human emotion, He demonstrated mature and perfect faith by surrendering to the Father’s will. He had both aspects within Him.

It is because He, though appearing weak, became strong in submission that He made a true and lasting covenant.

A believer often finds himself crushed between two opposing realities: between his own will and God's will; between the accuser Satan and the holy God. He is squeezed between two decisions.

But a mature believer does not get crushed—he leans on God and presses forward, despite inner conflict.

Now, when a believer is caught between these two authorities—his desire and God’s will—his true color is revealed.

If a believer prays and the prayer does not seem to be fulfilled as expected, and he becomes distressed between the voices of the devil and unbelievers, his response will show the nature of his faith.

At such a time, he must declare: "God's will has been done." This declaration removes any opportunity for Satan to accuse.

The believer must say: "My will has not been fulfilled, but my Father's will has been fulfilled. Therefore, I rejoice."

There is one “color” (state) in the prayer room. There is another in the conflict between two wills. And there is yet another when all is fulfilled.

After Jesus’ Gethsemane prayer, the enemies came to seize Him. In the same way, after the believer prays this kind of surrendering prayer, challenges may come.

At such times, the believer must ask: “What must be in the heart to say, ‘Father, Your will be done’?”

Three things must enter the believer’s heart:

1. Obedience – a surrendered willingness to follow God’s will.
2. A sense of completion – the joy of knowing: “I have finished my prayer; I have submitted to His will; I have fulfilled my duty.”
3. A later realization – “My prayer has now been answered. God has fulfilled His will in time.”

Whoever has these three in their heart is a true believer whose prayer “Thy will be done” is complete.

To the devil and the unbeliever, this believer must boldly say: “My will was not done. My Father's will became my will. Therefore, I can say it was my will too, and I have victory.”

In this, Satan is defeated. A believer should never grow discouraged.

There are two wills:

1. My will
2. God's will

My will has limited knowledge. God's will has infinite wisdom. Man's knowledge is limited—like seeing only a tree’s roots within 10 miles. But God’s knowledge sees the entire span of a man’s life and everything that comes his way.

That mystery is not known to us, but it is known to God. That’s why God sometimes does not fulfill the first request, but instead grants the second, better request.

Man has two spiritual gifts:

1. The gift of faith
2. The gift of vision (discernment or revelation)

Both are gifts of power. The gift of vision can perceive what is coming. The gift of faith believes even when it does not see.

When the believer prays with faith, he senses what is coming. Sometimes, the Lord reveals it in advance, and sometimes He reveals it after the fulfillment.

If healing does not come, and the believer later learns that the person was prepared for heavenly glory, that becomes the healing of the soul. Thus, one will gives way to another will, and a new prayer is born out of the old one.

Once the vision reveals what’s to come, the believer prays: “Lord, give me strength to endure. Prepare me for Your glory.”

Even if the gift of vision is absent, faith still operates. Hezekiah is an example. Death was decreed for him. But after a second prayer, a vision revealed that 15 more years were added to his life. The believer believed—and it was fulfilled.

May the Bridegroom Lord grant you the full measure of faith and vision. Amen.

— Father Devadasu Ayyagaru, Sermon at Rajahmundry, 10th June 1945