Faith and Miracles: Trusting God Before You See the Answer
John 6:11 – “Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.”
John 11:41 – “So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, thank you for hearing me.’”
Miracles Begin with Faith
When we read the Gospels, it’s easy to focus on the miraculous outcomes — thousands fed, the dead raised, storms calmed. But if we look closely, there’s a pattern: the miracle always began with faith, and that faith was often expressed through gratitude before anything changed.
In John 6:11, Jesus gave thanks for the bread and fish before it multiplied. In John 11:41, He thanked the Father for hearing Him before Lazarus walked out of the tomb. Faith doesn’t wait for proof; it acts in trust.
Gratitude Before the Breakthrough
Gratitude is more than just good manners — it’s an act of faith. When we thank God before we see the answer, we’re declaring that He has already made a way.
This is different from how we often pray. We ask, plead, and sometimes repeat the request over and over. Jesus shows us another way — thank the Father as if the answer is already on its way.
A Personal Journey of Faith and Trust
In 2015, I lived this lesson in a deeply personal way. It was Star Wars Day — May 4th — and I was on my usual routine. Up early, out the door by 5:20 AM, driving an hour to Denton, Texas, for work at Sally Beauty. At 8:00 AM, during a project kickoff meeting, I got a call from my boss to come to HR. I knew what that meant — I was being fired.
After receiving my severance package, I sat in my car and asked, “What now, God?” I was exhausted from a grueling job and long commute. My sister Janet was battling ovarian cancer, and the following week, we learned the cancer had returned with no more treatment options.
Wendy and I booked a cabin in Oklahoma to seek God’s guidance. That time led to a 40-day journey through The Purpose Driven Life. By the end, I knew I didn’t want another corporate executive position. My prayer list was specific:
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Work remotely so we could split time between Texas and Pennsylvania
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Mentor and grow younger people in the IT field
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Return to consulting rather than corporate life
Wendy and I prayed daily for this. But after a month of applying to jobs with no calls back, I began to wonder if God was listening.
Then, in early August, my sister passed away. I spent those last weeks helping her daily and handling her final arrangements. When I returned to job hunting, I applied for just two positions — and immediately got calls for interviews.
In the middle of one interview, I received a Facebook message from a former Microsoft colleague who was launching a consulting firm and wanted me to manage and mentor consultants. It met every single criterion I had prayed for.
Looking back, I see that God delayed the job search so I could care for my sister. Once that season was complete, He opened the door to exactly what I had asked for. It took prayer, patience, and faith — but God’s answer was better than I could have planned.
Faith, Intimacy, and Obedience
The faith of Jesus flowed from His intimacy with the Father. He didn’t just believe God could act; He knew God would. His gratitude was rooted in that closeness, and His actions were grounded in obedience — even when others doubted.
When we cultivate intimacy with God through prayer and Scripture, we can trust Him in the same way. Gratitude becomes natural because we know His heart.
Living in Expectation
If you are in a season of waiting, follow Jesus’ example:
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Pray with gratitude before the answer comes
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Obey God’s leading, even if it seems small or unusual
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Trust that His timing is perfect
The same God who multiplied bread and raised the dead is still at work. Your role is to believe, give thanks, and step forward in faith.
Related Blogs in the Prayers of Jesus Series
- Solitude and Intimacy: Hearing God’s Whisper
- Gratitude and Praise: Seeing God’s Goodness in All Seasons
- When Little Feels Like Not Enough: Jesus’ Prayer Before Feeding the Multitudes
- Praying Before Big Decisions: Learning from Jesus’ Example
- Jesus Prayed Alone: Making Prayer a Priority
- The Lord’s Prayer: Learning to Pray Like Jesus
- From Checklist to Crying Out: Learning to Pray From the Heart
My Books
I have written the following books to encourage and equip believers in their walk with God:
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The Greater the Love, The Deeper the Grief
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Confessions of a Pray-er to be Named Later
Both are available for purchase at https://www.discipleblueprintpress.com
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