During difficult times we often lament, "If only I had more faith!" Yet we demonstrate in everyday life that the most important issue is not the amount of our faith but the object of our faith. For instance, whenever we sit down in a chair, we trust that it will support us. Our faith is in the chair, not in how much faith we possess.

In Mark 11:12-24, Jesus taught His disciples the importance of having the right object of faith. It began when they overheard Jesus curse a fig tree (v.14). The next morning, Peter exclaimed, "Look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away" (v.21). Jesus replied, "Have faith in God" (v.22). Having declared God as the object of faith, Jesus assured them that they too could pray for and receive amazing results through God-centered faith. And so may we.

Often, however, we praise those who have great faith in God. Ian Thomas once preached: "When we congratulate people for having faith in our Creator, we're really saying that God is so decrepit they're to be congratulated for believing in Him." He continued, "To become less conscious of faith, we must become more acquainted with the object of faith."

Get to know God better. Then to trust Him will become as natural as trusting the chair you're sitting on!  — Joanie Yoder