Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. — HEBREWS 11:1

Back when we were pastoring, I remember a woman who brought her mother from another county to see us.

Margene brought her mother, who was sixty-seven years old and had been in the asylum at Wichita Falls, Texas, because she had lost her mind. Margene explained to us that the state authorities had contacted her and her two sisters to see if one of them would keep their mother. The state said they would pay for the daughter to keep her mother.

The mother had not responded to institutional care. Those at the institution told Margene, “We can’t help your mother. Her mind will never be right.” She was unsaved and not expected to live much longer. She was going to die and go to hell.

When I looked into the mother’s eyes, I noticed that they didn’t look right. They were dull and listless. Margene shook her mother, put her hand on her shoulder, and said, “Now, Mama, come on, get up now. We’ve got to go home, because I’ve got to get back in time to cook supper.”

When Margene shook her that way, she suddenly blinked her eyes and looked at me. Then she said the only sensible thing she had said all day. She said, “Will I ever be any better?”

I immediately thought of Mark 11:23: “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” I pointed my finger at her and said, “Yes, you will, in the Name of Jesus.” That’s all I said.

Margene bundled her mother in the car and took her home. Now she didn’t look a bit better. She still looked as crazy as she ever did. But to me, that settled it. I said that to her in faith. Faith is not moved by what it sees. Faith is not moved by what it feels. Faith is not moved by what it hears from the natural standpoint. Faith is moved only by what the Word says.

Confession: I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am not moved by what I hear from the natural standpoint. I am moved only by what the Word says.