The Power Of RestSample

One of the most important lessons God taught me concerning how faith works happened way back in 1991. I had been talking to some local police officers two years before, when they shared with me about how many deer were typically hit on the roads every year. I asked them what happens to the deer that are hit and killed, and they told me about “The List.” It was a list of people they would call to come and tag the deer.

I wanted on that list!

Before deer season ever began that year, my freezer was full of venison. In fact, I went into the season without even praying or asking God for my deer. And I didn’t sow any seed either.

But I still went out on opening day and every day of the weeklong season. Apparently, I hadn’t learned that it was a waste of time to go out without releasing faith. 

Jump ahead to the 1992 season. I was confused about what had happened the year before, but I still didn’t bother to pray and ask God about what had happened. Since I hadn’t received any calls yet about road-kill deer before the season started, I sowed my seed and prayed about getting some venison.

After multiple attempts at getting a deer that season, and some missed shots, I knew something was really wrong. God had taught me so much about faith through hunting just a few years before. What was the problem?

It wasn’t until the beginning of the 1993 season that I truly sought God about the previous two seasons and what had happened. In prayer, He clearly said, The police list.

What?

The Lord clearly showed me how being on the list had affected my faith and divided my focus.

The list was a backup plan.

I knew that if my faith in God didn’t come through with a deer, I could always get one from the police department.

I had divided faith—two completely different visions of how to get my need met. I believed in my own method (the road-kill list), and yet I wanted to trust God to bring my deer through hunting.

The Bible says a man who is double-minded should expect to receive nothing from the Lord. 

If you have a backup plan, you’re not walking in faith. Faith doesn’t need a safety net. As humans, we like to have everything in place so we feel secure. But God wants us to realize that there is no place more secure than resting in faith!