How a Cry Gave the Faith to Believe in Jesus

It was about 11:30 at night when I turned off the freeway to drive the final 15 miles through the forest to our home. I noticed a fellow by the side of the road hoping for a ride in the direction we were going. Upon a closer look, I realized it was Matt, the fellow I had picked up numerous times in the past six months. Each time, I was led to tell him about the love of Jesus. At times, he would be on drugs, and at other times, he was very hostile to hearing any “Good News” about Jesus. In fact, one time he refused to get in my car and told me that he would wait for another ride.

This night, he was happy to see me as I pulled to the side of the road. The boys moved over and made room for one more in the already crowded car. As I drove off, I introduced everyone in the car to Matt, and after some conversation, I said, “Matt, have you been thinking about what I told you of Jesus or read the tracts I gave you?” He surprised me by saying, “Yes, I have.”

Upon further inquiry, Matt stated that he did not really believe that Christ died for his sins, and he could not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. So I told Matt that Jesus is the One Who gives us the faith to believe. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Since he did not have the faith, I told him that I would ask God to give it to him right now. Immediately, I raised my voice and cried out to Jesus to give Matt the faith to believe, reminding God that He is the “author and finisher of our faith.”

When I finished crying out, I looked in the rearview mirror and asked Matt if he believed. I quoted Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Matt said he did believe. I asked if he wanted to pray, and he said, “Yes!” I led him in a prayer of repentance and acceptance of Jesus’ blood to forgive sin, and he invited Jesus into his heart to be Lord of his life! Everyone in the car was excited.

As I parked in front of his home, he was very excited. He actually smiled and gave me a big hug and thanked me. He said, “I don’t understand. I feel really good!”

I explained about the “new birth” experience and how important it is to read God’s Word and to attend a good church. He did not have a Bible, so at six the next morning on the way to the seminar, I gave him a Bible and a letter of encouragement to read it daily.

What God did in Matt’s life is wonderful. But what He has done in my life by using the teaching on crying out is a powerful revelation. Now as I read the Bible I see everywhere how crying out is God’s way for us. The act of crying out in my car for God to give faith to a down-and-out hitchhiker and atheist was nothing but a miracle!

Used by permission.

This is a significant testimony of the faith of one being effective for the unbelief of another. Four friends of a man sick of the palsy removed tile from the roof and lowered him into the room where Jesus was. “Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2).