He Has You

Many years ago, I had signed up for a class so that I could go inside of prisons to do ministry. But a few weeks before the class I was in a motorcycle accident and got hurt. I had fractured my left foot and leg in many places. I had to wear a brace and use crutches for four months. The first two months with no weight on my leg at all and the next two months gradually increasing weight each week.

When God has you on your knees, it is there He can change you. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3).

When we grow in faith, we realize how small we really are. “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers – the moon and the stars you set in place – what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4 NLT).

I canceled going to the class as the pain was too much. I was having a terrible time just getting around where I had to. A few months into my recovery I signed up for another class. I went to the class and at the end, they had sign-ups to go to an all-day event at a prison. The event was six weeks away and I did not know if I could walk by that time without crutches. But I signed up anyway, a step of faith to do what God was leading me to do.

When our faith rises, so does our reliance upon His power. “for the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4 ESV).

Never limit your faith to what you can do. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20).

When the time was drawing near to go into prison, I still could not get around without crutches. I could not go in with the crutches, so I was praying that God would help me. I prayed all the way up to the day and the minute before entering the prison. God made a way. My first day walking without crutches was in the prison ministry that God had called me into.

The level of our faith is revealed in the confidence we have as we pray for things. Jesus taught, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24).

To grow in your faith, the question is not can you be strong enough, but can you be weak enough. The Lord told the Apostle Paul, “…My power is brought to perfection in weakness.” [and Paul said] Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power will rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 CJB).

We spent the whole day going unit to unit, helping men sign up their children to receive Christmas gifts through the Angel Tree program. I was limping and in pain, walking very slowly, but I was so filled with the hope of what God was doing in my life.

Trajectory always trumps speed when it comes to your faith. “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).

We need to be wise, sometimes God closes a door, either for good or for a time, and we need to respect His decisions. But other times He calls us to do something that we may not think we are ready for, but where He will make a way. We need to have faith in what He can do.

Faith is not what you can do, but what you believe He can do. The boys facing certain death told Nebuchadnezzar, “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king” (Daniel 3:17).

I remember another day at a different prison many years after this event. Where my foot can still hurt to stand and walk too much, but the Lord lifted me to go cell to cell by myself in an entire prison. I prayed at 400 cells where they would let me, all in an eight-hour period with no breaks. I never imagined I would do that much, but I just kept taking a step of faith. It was by the power of God that this was possible.

God must test your faith to reveal your faith. “The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is…” (1 Peter 1:7 NOG).

Child of God, where is it that you need to take a step of faith? What is it that God is calling you to do? What is it that will require the power of God that you might do it?

Step into your calling and use the faith that God has given you. There are people on this planet counting on you. Take a step of faith. Trust in God. You will serve Him with His qualifications, not yours.

Blessings to you,

Paul Balius

All Scripture is quoted from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted. Please use the version you prefer to review the verses shown here. The best version is the one you read. An even better version is the one you live.