I don’t know about you, but I have some long-standing prayer requests. The kind you measure in years, not months. And after years of waiting for answers to those prayers, my faith can waver a bit. Sometimes I doubt whether what I’m seeking is really from God or not. Have I misunderstood desires that I thought were from the Lord? Have I been wasting time praying for the wrong things? And if not, how can I maintain faith to believe what my eyes cannot yet see (Hebrews 11:1)?
As I was praying for increased faith recently, I distinctly heard the words “faith board” in my spirit. You might be familiar with the concept of vision boards, which are supposed to visually represent goals for your life in the form of inspiring photos, words, or other images. The idea is that by regularly looking at your vision board, you can visualize yourself accomplishing these goals and are therefore more likely to achieve them.
The impression I had for a “faith board” was a little different. It wasn’t meant to visually represent the objects of my prayer requests (although I’m sure a board like that would be encouraging!). Instead, I was pressed to depict the reassurances that God has graciously given me over the years to help me keep believing for miracles that have not yet manifested. These include encouraging dreams, exhortations from other believers, and multiple verses that applied directly to a situation and brought peace that I couldn’t begin to explain. I felt led to commit these instances to one piece of paper, kept where I could see it day after day and be reminded of His faithfulness, especially in times of doubt. This faith board sits on the corner of my desk and is a constant reminder to keep believing.
Throughout the Bible, physical objects and rituals reminded people of the Lord’s intervention and promises. God instructed Joshua to erect memorial stones to commemorate the crossing of the Jordan (Joshua 4:1-7), and Moses instructed him to build an altar of stones with the words of the law inscribed upon them (Joshua 8:30-35). Jacob anointed a stone to remind him of the words God had spoken to him in a dream (Gen. 28:10-22; 35:13-15). The Passover meal represented God’s salvation in the land of Egypt (Exodus 12:14-20), and the Last Supper instituted a tradition for followers to keep in remembrance of Jesus (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24-25).
Physical reminders can help root our faith and refocus our attention when hope wanes. If you’re struggling with doubt today, is there something tangible you could create or display to remind you of God’s faithfulness?
About the Author:
Lori Haynie is a consultant and writer. She has written for several legal publications and now contributes to devotional magazines and blogs. She lives with her husband, son, and dog in central Arkansas and can be reached at lorimhaynie@gmail.com.
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