The Search for Significance

178 The Search For Significance
of promise, seeking Him? This principle is evident
in the case of Cathy. Cathy told me repeatedly
that she just knew her husband David would
come back to her. She had prayed for months that
her family would be restored, and felt her prayer
reflected the desire of God. Imagine how confused
she looked when I asked her if God had told her
that David would return home.
"Well, no, not exactly," she said, "but I really
feel God wants us all together again, and I'm
claiming it by faith."
It was good that Cathy was praying and waiting
for David's return, but healing her home required
that David obey God's voice and return of
his own free will. When weeks went by and David
didn't return, Cathy despaired. Was her faith misplaced?
Was God unwilling to heal her home?
No, God was indeed willing to move on Cathy's
behalf, but He would not violate David's free will.
The choice remained with David, and Cathy
would simply have to wait.
Cathy was frustrated, but she decided to study
the sovereignty and wisdom of God. After a while,
her frustration changed to faith and hope. Then,
surprisingly, one day David came up the walk into
the house. He was a changed man, and Cathy was
a thrilled wife!
God answered Cathy's prayers by constructing
circumstances that showed David his need for a
Savior and for repentance, but it was David's decision
to trust in Christ and come home. Our faith
needs to be in God to do what the Scriptures say
He will do, not to do things that violate His Word,
His intentions, and the God-given free will of
others.
There is another misunderstanding that needs
to be dispelled. Some people believe that true faith
exists only in the absence of doubt, but that is not
necessarily the case. Biblical faith often exists in