Embracing Faith Over Wishes
Wishes? Faith and hope are about trusting in something greater than ourselves, believing that there is purpose and promise in our journey. They encourage us to keep moving forward, even when the path is unclear. Unlike wishes, which can feel fleeting and reliant on luck, faith and hope ground us in the reality that we can actively seek growth and strength, no matter the circumstances. While a genie grants wishes that may or may not align with our true needs, faith and hope inspire us to cultivate resilience, seek connection, and embrace the possibilities that come with trusting in a divine plan.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”
Wishes and Faith:
Wishes—what can we say about them? They represent the things we long for, often knowing the odds of them coming true are slim, maybe one in a hundred. Still, we dream, and often we dream of the impossible.
John 15:7: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”
Take these, for example:
1. I wish for a beautiful white farmhouse in a southern state, with a large field, a barn, a two-car garage, and a view of the mountains right from the front porch. Along with my new home, I also wish for the pickup and Jeep I’ve always dreamed of.
James 1:6: “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours”
2. I wish for perfect health for my wife, my boys, and myself—that we’d never experience pain, anxiety, or worry again. I wish my wife’s knees could be fully healed so she could walk normally, and we could enjoy the outdoors like we used to. I wish my boys didn’t have to carry the burdens they do at such young ages.
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by Faith, not by sight.
3. I wish I could work from home as a full-time author, making a living through book sales, with an agent getting my work out there. That would be the dream—doing what I love while providing for my family.
Psalm 20:4 ESV
May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.
But these are just wishes, fantasies I know may never come true.
Then we look at faith. Faith teaches me to be content where I am. My home may not be a farmhouse or a log cabin—heck, it’s not even close to the kind of place people dream of owning. But faith allowed us to call it home. Faith allowed it to be paid off, and faith helps us make ends meet. When something breaks, by God’s grace, we somehow have just enough saved to fix it.
Philippians 4:19 (KJV) . “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Faith is knowing that God will not forsake us. As the song above says, “All our Hope is in Jesus, thank God that yesterday is gone, our sins are forgiven, and we’ve been washed by the blood.” The real question is: Are we content? That’s often a hard one, especially when we find ourselves bargaining with God. As my Small Group leader asks, “Is God enough?”
Then there’s work. I’m in the middle of possibly losing my job, and the worst part is not knowing when or how soon it will happen. Living paycheck to paycheck is stressful enough, but now the company owner is selling the business and keeping us in the dark about what’s coming next.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
On top of that, my health isn’t great, and I’m not exactly young enough to start over in a new career. That’s where the fantasy sneaks back in: Maybe I could find a way to work from home. Maybe, if I could be my own boss, things would be different. Or maybe I should add to my wish list the dream of spending the rest of my life as an author, writing books for a living.
But who am I kidding? I can’t even get support from my own family outside of my wife and our boys, let alone expect strangers to buy my book and think it’s worth reading.
“For even his own brothers did not believe in him.”
Still, enough with the pity, patty, poopy, party. I could have given some polished, “Miss America” type of answers about what I wish for, but instead, I’ve shared what’s really on my mind, heart, and soul. It may not be perfect, but it’s real—and it’s where I am.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Thank you for Visiting and Reading. While this post was meant for fun, it holds a lot of truth and reflects many of the struggles I face, just as I’m sure others do.
I’m not a preacher or teacher, just someone with my own challenges. But even when I forget, I must remind myself to lean on God, trusting that He’s with me every step of the way and will never forsake me. And I hope you know that He loves you and is always with you, too.
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’”
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing.
You Are Loved.
Please keep me in your Prayers.
Willie Torres Jr.
10/29/2024
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Willie Torres Jr. 
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