“I feel very sad we couldn’t buy those fancy chocolate cookies and apple-caramel pie, dad,” Pepe whined as he and his dad arrived home from the grocery store.

“I know son, I know…they looked delicious,” his father agreed with a sigh. “Once I find a job I promise we’ll get them.”

“But when? You’ve been looking for a new one for a long time now!” Pepe asked in desperation.

“We can’t loose faith, Pepe,” his father calmly responded. “I’ll find work! There’s nothing impossible for God.”

“Okay, I have to think positive, positive, positive…” Pepe mumbled to himself in the kitchen while putting the groceries away.

“Pepe,” his dad smiled, “positive thinking is not the same as the faith that God talks about in the Bible.”

“What?” Pepe interrupted.

“Biblical faith is not a feeling in your tummy, or a positive mental attitude, or made up stuff…all of those things are unstable,” his dad explained. “It is the knowledge and belief that God does what He says, and it is totally reliable because it’s based in His truth. Think Pepe, God has proven Himself to be totally trustworthy…look at His resurrection, He saved us as He promised!”

“Okay, I believe, believe, believe…” Pepe closed his eyes tight.

“But Pepe, you believe in what?” his dad asked him puzzled.

“Enough!” Pepe said in exasperation. “I’m going to the living room to do my homework. I can’t help you with the rest of the groceries.” He left the kitchen in a rush with a big frown.

Pepe started questioning God. Pepe has been praying and talking to God for months now and nothing, NOTHING! No job for dad yet.

Poof! The Three Musketeers made themselves visible.

“Pepe!,” Jesus called his attention. “…I can promise you this, if you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.” [Matthew 17:20]

Pepe looked at him incredulously, “I can’t be sure of that.”

“Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty.” [John 6:35]

“Well then, please help my dad get a job, if you can.” Pepe said unsure if God could.

“Jesus replied, ‘Why do you say ‘if you can’? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!” [Mark 9:23]

“But I have prayed many nights for a job for dad and look, we can’t get all the stuff we want at the grocery store!” Pepe was sad.

The Father intervened, “You can learn from what my Son Jesus told me one day: ‘Father, if you will, please don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want.’” [Luke 22:42]

The Holy Spirit then whispered into Pepe’s heart, “You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested.” [James 1:3] He paused and then continued, “We always respond to your prayers, but not always when you want us to or the way you want us to. We’re building good character in you, Pepe. We’re making a beautiful and shining gem out of you.”

Pepe was so overwhelmed that he felt dizzy. So many words!

“Don’t forget to pray for your faith too, Pepe,” Jesus spoke noticing Pepe’s fading attention. “It’s important that your faith is always strong.”

“Anything is possible if you believe in my Son, Pepe. Besides, with Him in your heart, you’ll have a more joyful life!” the Father winked.

“Joyful…you mean, being happy all the time?” Pepe asked.

“No, Pepe!,” laughed the Holy Spirit. “It means having peace even in times of trouble.”

Suddenly, Pepe’s dad burst into the living room, “Pepe! Pepe! I just got a message about having a job interview tomorrow at a very cool place!”

Pepe’s heart was filled with hope. He turned towards the Musketeers, but they had made themselves invisible. “I guess I have to pray for my faith too, and allow God’s power to help me with it,” he whispered to himself and a smile of relief finally illuminated his face.

Then, a thought crossed his mind, “Mmmm…it might be a good idea to write down all the times God has helped me so that I won’t forget that He’s always with me, and that He always listens to me.”

“Yes,” the Holy Spirit whispered, “faith is deliberate action.”

Related Bible quotes:
Hebrews 11:1
James 1:12
Luke 8:48