Taking Jesus at His Word

“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. — John 4:50 (NIV)

When I saw this Scripture, I paused for a second at the revelation I had just received.

I had read this Scripture a million times (to exaggerate) but I have always just skipped past this verse. Today, however, it really hit me.

“The man TOOK Jesus at HIS WORD and departed.”

It made me question myself: Have I taken Jesus at His Word?

And it is a question that I would also like you to reflect on.

To take Jesus at His Word means that you grab hold of whatever He has told you and run with it. It means having faith in the very words of our Lord and Saviour.

Do you have faith?

Don't answer blindly. Instead, evaluate your life and yourself. Even think about the word you may have been given this season. Would you say that you truly faith in it?

Faith is a beautiful thing, but it can also be a difficult thing.

It is beautiful to see the promises of God revealed in His timing, but the journey of holding onto that faith can sometimes be difficult.

It is difficult when we cannot see it.

It is difficult when we do not feel it.

It is difficult when it looks impossible.

But the Bible tells us:

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” — Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

So, what looks impossible to you today?

Maybe you are waiting on something. Maybe you are hoping for something that does not seem to be in existence right now. But if you hold on a little longer to the word that God has given you, you will see His faithfulness.

Just as the royal official believed Jesus, took Him at His Word, and departed, we must also use him as an example of what having faith looks like.

It means that even when it looks impossible, we believe anyway.

Where there is fear, there is no faith.

This is not just a quote found on social media or on the back of your phone case. It is a real reflection of the battle that many of us face.

Do not allow yourself to be someone who says, “I don't expect it,” with your mouth when, deep down, you are hoping for it to happen but have convinced yourself not to expect it.

Sometimes, we tell ourselves that we do not expect anything because we are trying to protect ourselves. We think that if it does not happen, we will not be disappointed because we never expected it in the first place. But if we are honest with ourselves, could that actually be a sign that we do not believe as much as we think we do?

You may say that you have faith and that you trust God, but at the same time, you are already preparing yourself for the possibility that it will not happen. You convince yourself not to get too excited, not to hope too much, and not to expect too much, just in case you end up disappointed.

When you are trusting God for something, it is also important that you do not walk by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), which I think is what has caught most of us, including myself.

When we walk by sight, it will often look impossible. It may never look like it is working.

But when we walk by faith, meaning that we are trusting in God completely for that thing, no matter how long it takes or how impossible it looks, it gives us hope to know that God is still able.

The Bible reminds us that God is faithful.

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”— 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)

And the Bible also tells us:

“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?”— Numbers 23:19 (NIV)

So when you know and understand the character of God, you will begin to understand that He is faithful and that He will do what He says He will do.

This does not mean that everything will always happen in the exact way or timing that we expect. But it does mean that we can trust God.

So, if you are hoping or waiting on something, whether it be a job, university, marriage, or whatever it may be, keep praying, keep hoping, and hold steadfast to your faith.

Trust in God.

Take Him at His Word.

Even when you cannot see it.

Even when you do not feel it.

Even when it looks impossible.

Because just as the royal official took Jesus at His Word and departed, sometimes faith simply means taking God at His Word and continuing to move forward.

Keep believing.

Keep trusting.

Keep praying.

It will work out, and one day, it will all make sense in the end.