我朋友小的時候，她的哥哥也還是小孩子，但他再三向我朋友保證，只要她願意「相信」，一把打開的雨傘就足以撐起她的重量。所以她就「憑信心」從穀倉的屋頂上跳下來，結果不但摔得不醒人事，還有輕微的腦震盪。

凡是上帝所應許的，祂一定會成就。然而，當我們要求上帝實現應許時，就必須先確定上帝的話的確是這麼說。唯有如此，我們才能肯定上帝必會按祂所應許的來成就。信心必須建立在上帝清楚且毫無疑義的應許上，這樣的信心才有力量，否則就不過是妄求而已。

舉例來說，上帝應許我們：「凡你們所願意的，祈求就給你們成就。你們多結果子，我父就因此得榮耀」（約翰福音15章7-8節）。這段經文並不是指上帝會應允我們所有的祈求，而是每當我們努力追求聖潔公義，即渴慕保羅所說的「聖靈的果子」（加拉太書5章22-23節），祂會樂意賜給我們。若我們渴望成為聖潔，並向上帝祈求，祂也會幫助我們。屬靈生命的成長和人的成長一樣都需要時間，必須循序漸進。我們別輕言放棄，只要不斷向上帝祈求成聖，祂就會按著預定的時間為我們成就。因為凡出於上帝的應許，就絕不落空！

My friend’s brother (when they were both children) assured his sister an umbrella had enough lift to hold her up if she would only “believe.” So “by faith” she jumped off a barn roof and knocked herself out, suffering a minor concussion.

What God has promised, He will do. But we must be sure we stand on God’s actual word when we claim a promise, for only then do we have the assurance that God will do or give what He’s promised. Faith has no power in itself. It only counts when it’s based on a clear and unambiguous promise from God. Anything else is just wishful thinking. 

Here’s a case in point: God has promised, “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:7–8). These verses are not a promise that God will answer every prayer we utter, but rather a promise that He will respond to every longing for personal righteousness, what Paul calls “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22–23). If we hunger and thirst for holiness and ask God for it, He will begin to satisfy us. It will take time; for spiritual growth, like human growth, is gradual. Don’t give up. Keep asking God to make you holy. In His time and at His pace “it will be done for you.” God doesn’t make promises He doesn’t keep.