If you’re a parent like me, you have probably had your child contradict what you just said and insist on doing something different. Maybe they threw a fit, or maybe they just asked a whiny, “But why?” Our typical response is, “Because I said so!”

Many times God instructs us to do something, and we simply need to obey because the Lord of our lives said so. But when it comes to faith and trusting His promises, we also need to believe because He said so. Often, the physical answers to our prayers don’t manifest immediately for our eyes to see. When this happens, the devil likes to tell us that God is a liar. He tries to convince us that we will never see our need met, our body healed, or our family restored. However, God’s Word plainly says that God isn’t a liar. God, in fact, cannot lie. Based on His nature, it’s simply impossible.

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. (Hebrews 6:17-18, NIV).

When symptoms scream that we’re sick and our bank account hollers that we’re broke, we can choose what or who to believe. Who is telling the truth and who is broadcasting a lie? If God will not and cannot lie, our symptoms and circumstances are the liars. They are saying and doing something other than God’s infallible Word declares over us. For example, when our body aches, God’s Word declares we’re healed by Jesus’ stripes (Isaiah 53:5). When we’re suffering financially, God’s Word says He supplies all our needs (Philippians 4:19). Considering God’s holy reputation, it would be foolish to accept something other than God’s Word as the final truth.

It’s easy to get discouraged when our physical experiences don’t match up immediately with God’s spiritual Word. That’s when we must remind ourselves of the faithfulness of God and the power of His Word.

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word” Jeremiah 1:12).

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us (2 Corinthians 1:20).

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands (Psalm 138:8).

He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac… (Psalm 105:8-9)

Just like our boss promises us a paycheck, and our insurance agency promises to provide coverage, so God promises to keep His Word. But in His case, His Word is not based on a fallible man with good intentions. His Word is based on His unbreakable integrity and power. Our job is to keep confidence in that integrity and power until we see His Word come to pass for our eyes to see.

It all comes down to remembering the faith, or confidence, that we had when we first prayed about our situation.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15).

The devil wants us to throw away that original faith. He wants to destroy the joy of anticipating what God promised to us. Why? Because He does not want us to be a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

God, on the other hand, is calling us to keep the faith, regardless of how long it takes for the answer to appear. He wants us to hold on to our confidence, knowing He has already answered. He has commanded us to live by faith in what He said, not in doubt because of what we see. We must believe . . . because God said so.

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise… (Hebrews 10:35-36).

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9).