I Think My Faith Grew an Inch or So Taller

OK. So, I know about faith, alright. I can quote several passages about faith by heart. I can even teach about faith. So, I’m guessing based on my faith-o-logy, Jesus would have used, err, maybe a peanut seed to describe my faith, rather than that of a mustard. 

Yikes! Well, ’not sure about that; should Jesus consider how many times I’ve doubted Him.

I actually recently learned something about faith: the more your faith produces results, the stronger your faith becomes. 

A few weeks ago, I chose to spend Christmas vacation with my family in Kentucky, United States. After so much spending due to travel expenses, I decided to add a little bit of more spending as icing on the cake. I had not seen Rowni, my Missouri Mom (that’s what I call her) in four years, and I really wanted to use the opportunity to see her. And so, I purchased a Delta Airlines ticket to and from Missouri for exactly $329.60. I got to the U.S. on Christmas Eve, and while waiting at Charlotte, North Carolina for my connecting flight to Kentucky, I got a text message from Rowni saying that she had to travel to Indiana because her mother-in-law was really ill. That was really sad. The money I had spent crossed my mind, but I honestly didn’t want to dwell on it, because I wanted to pray for her mother-in-law and her family, and I did (mind you). In my mind, I knew for sure that the money was gone. I had purchased the cheapest online deal, with no insurance. Truthfully, however, I was even sadder that I wasn’t going to see her.

Anyway, the next day – Christmas day, I went to the Delta Airlines counter in the Loiusville, KY airport; and the counter lady was quick to tell me that no matter what changes I needed to make to the ticket, I had to forfeit $200. And then she said, “Just wait, let me check the type of ticket you got there.” As I waited, my thoughts were, “LORD, I don’t understand. Why should I lose money? Based on what I know from your Word, I should NOT lose money.” While I wallowed in self pity, I heard, “the money has been refunded.” That was the lady who spoke. Komi (with whom I went) and I raised our heads and said, “What?” She repeated her words.

Actually, what happened was that I had used a US Bank’s Credit Card to purchase the ticket online in Nigeria, and because the Airline or the Bank (whichever – does not matter now) did not recognize the IP address from which the transaction was made, they canceled it and refunded the money to the credit card. The airline left my ticket valid and stated right there on their system that I should pay with cash before checking in. I almost flipped. I didn’t need to check in again, meaning I didn’t need to pay again. That was definitely a Christmas present for me.

I had believed God’s Word that said when we bring in our tithes and offerings, He will rebuke devourers for our sakes (Malachi 3:10-11), and His Word came true for me.

A few days later, December 30, I went to Burlington Coat Factory and bought some clothes of about $220. I handed the cashier $300 in cash, and instead of $80 in change, she gave me $60. Without checking, I just collected the money from her and put it in my wallet. I only noticed when I got home that I was short $20. The next day, I went to back to the store and told the store manager what had happened, and she said, “Wait here, let me just go and check if that register was over yesterday.” And sure it was. She came back with $20 in hand, returned to me, the rightful owner. Trouble-free!

That amazed me AGAIN. “Does it mean I really cannot lose money? WOW!” I chose to hang onto that belief. So when on the day I was leaving, I didn’t find about $40 or $60 or so, I just told myself, “I cannot lose money.” No doubt, you guessed right, it wasn’t lost.

You know when I realized my faith may’ve grown, especially in the area of financial provision? It was this last Saturday. A girl in my local church was going to give up her admission into the University because her family didn’t have money to pay for her schooling, and somehow, I got to know. I couldn’t accept that, even though I knew that I had no “good” money to give her. I planned give her the initial money she needed, which was N10,000 – that, I could handle. Anyway, I had no idea how the actual tuition money would come about; but I knew for sure that it would show up somehow. What I didn’t know was that half of it was going to show up a couple hours later. Who then can blame me for jumping up in excitement out of the couch when my dad (to whom I had mentioned the issue earlier) came home from a meeting and while still standing said, “That girl that came here with you today – I have decided to pay half of her school fees.”

Wow! God already had a plan; I just only had to believe and do what He moved me to do (that is, mentioning it to dad). Kenneth E. Hagin had taught me in a sermon I read some days before that, usually, our spirit believes, but our head doubts and trouble comes when we begin to agree with our head. So when my head began to doubt, my mouth spoke to it what my spirit believed. I thought aloud, saying, “I am so sure we will get the money that she needs to go to school. I just don’t know how.” And it came – partly, for now. Did I remember to mention that out of the N10,000, only N3,000 eventually came directly from me? Don’t ask how. God does it best. Always!

In addition to all that had happened over the Christmas holiday, my faith had no choice but to grow an inch or so taller, and even stronger.

And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.
 Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’
and does not doubt in his heart,
but believes that what he says is going to happen,
it will be granted him.
Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask,
believe that you have received them,
and they will be granted you.”

Mark 11:22-24 (NASB)

LORD, I BELIEVE; I so Believe!