Physical Breakthrough or Spiritual Breakthrough?

Believing in God for a breakthrough?

We are often taught to believe in God for financial breakthrough or physical healing. Our requests can range from deliverance from dire life and death situations, to upgrading our condominium to a landed property.

While we are encouraged to pray for one another (James 5:13-18), do we expect a 100% yes from a God who can heal and able to provide all our wants? Is that what the bible calls, Faith? James 1:6-8 describes a man who doubts is like a wave tossed by the wind, unstable in all his ways. Is the biblical concept of Faith meant for us to believe in God for the things we want? To satisfy our personal agendas?

It is of human tenancy to crave for security and comfort. And when our basic needs are met, we are often bombarded by desire to want more in luxury and earthly pleasures. And some unfortunate ones spend it on carnal sinful lifestyles. We want breakthroughs. financial breakthroughs, medical breakthroughs, relationship breakthroughs;

Whatever that is bothering us, we want OUT. And whatever that we desire, we want IN.

So what if the very breakthrough that we are believing in God for, is taking forever to come? And how long should we wait before we decide that God is saying no? Or how much persistence do we need to pray to be like the Persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8?

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Guilty for a doubt?

[ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:6-8 NKJV ]

Reading from this passage, James seemed to be talking about a man who has insufficient faith to believe in "a God who gives us all things". This makes the one who gives up praying for his needs look like a quitter. As if his financial breakthrough or healing miracle is dependent on one's level of Faith. After all, "Faith is the currency of heaven" right? But let's examine what James really meant when he mentioned, "Faith".

[ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:2-5 NKJV ]

The preceding verses 2-5 tells us that James is not talking about God answering our prayer requests. He is talking about going through trials and tribulations, citing that it is the testing of our faith that produces perseverance. And perseverance must finish its work so that we can be perfect and complete, not lacking anything.

So what is that thing which is lacking that we ought to ask from God? Verse 5 tells us, it is WISDOM. Is that referring to scholarly wisdom? Or some kind of profound philosophy? Well, it definitely relates to verses 2-4 doesn't it? Yes, the keyword is Trials and Tribulations. Wisdom to go through trials, wisdom to know that God is sovereign, wisdom to know that even when calamity happens, even when one fall sick to cancer, loses a limb or loses a loved one... he can still say... God is good.

So who is the man described in verse 6, who is like a wave of the sea, tossed by the wind? In context to TRIALS, PERSEVERANCE and WISDOM from verse 2 to 5, he is the direct opposite from the one who asks for wisdom. He is the one who questions God when he faces trouble. He will doubt the will of God, or even questions his existence when bad things happens. He is the seed that has fallen among thorns (Matt 13:22), where trials and worries for this life causes him to lose his faith. That is because his priorities are not aligned to the things of God. He is the false believer described in Rom 8:4-8; he keeps his mind on the things of the flesh (earthly, carnal) instead of things of the spirit (heavenly, righteous). he is one who asks amiss :

[ You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet[a] you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4:2-3 NKJV ]

Faith is not about believing God for Breakthrough and Miracles. Faith is about believing God even when times are bad. It's about staying righteous when surrounded by evil. It's about even when we lost everything, we can still say God is good, that Salvation is sufficient.