Little bit of faith in a great big God

James 4 reminds us that things can happen when we employ the principles in God's word...

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%204:2-4&version=NLT

When my son has a Biology test, unless he asks questions and I help him to study and he reads the book, he is most likely not going to get a good grade. If he thinks God will give him all the answers without doing any of the things mentioned above, it's doubtful he'll do well. Same with us; without reading His word and asking Him for direction and blessings, expectations can be out of reach.

So, what did I do with my hopes and expectations? I began to take them to God in prayer. James says, "You do not have, because you do not ask God." We have a license to come to the Lord with our complaints, with our praise, with our hurts, and with our hopes. We know that he hears us, that he loves us, and that he has our best interests at heart. So, even when the storms of life are raging around us, we can find shelter in God's love.

Faith in God can do great things for our relationships. It can shield us from allowing relational difficulties to wound us too deeply. It can protect our hearts from despair. It can renew our hope in the hard times.

And all it takes is a little bit of faith in a great big God.