Jesus taught: Faith like a child. The simpler the belief in God's miracles is, the easier it is for God to heal – without any hindrances. Children have not learned to doubt like adults have. Children grasp what you say in faith and trust it. They have not been influenced by society's "isms": atheism, rationalism, particularism, materialism, formalism, and liberal theology. These isms are enemies of faith. These are the poisons of faith in the West. It is regrettable that these isms have sucked out biblical faithfulness in many theological colleges in Norway and elsewhere in the West. If you go to Asia and Africa, the spiritual climate is completely different. Here, faith is a part of life. Necessity has taught them to seek God in desperate faith.

Jesus describes true, living faith like this:

"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

Mark 10:15

Is that why the answer to prayer was absent? Are we lacking the simple, uncomplicated childlike faith, what we might call heart-faith? It can be described as: Read it as it is written, believe it as it is written, and do as it is written. Maybe we are not properly connected? The vessel of faith is full of cracks and cannot hold water. It often consists of a certain dose of traditional denominational belief and is mixed with personal experiences. This concoction is eventually called "faith." Many are therefore spiritually leaking. The pivotal point is: Is the faith alive and active or is it theoretical and dead – without expectation?

It is worst when one creates a theology based on failed prayer attempts. One concludes thus: "God may not want to heal because nothing happened when I prayed." Instead, one should do as Peter did when the entire group of disciples failed to cast a spirit of illness out of a possessed boy. Peter came to Jesus and said:

"Why could we not cast it out?"

Matt 17:19

Here's the answer from Jesus:

"So Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Matt 17:20

Jesus taught that faith doesn't need to be great, as long as it is living and expectant. Many preachers sometimes give people false comfort by saying: "There is nothing wrong with your faith." How can they be so sure of that? We know some judge themselves wrongly – the faith is genuine, but the answer to prayer has been delayed. Such people need our comfort and encouragement.

Jesus' assessment of his disciples' faith was unmistakable. The answer to prayer was absent because of a lack of genuine, living faith. Jesus answered Peter: The answer to prayer was absent "because of your unbelief". Thanks to Peter who dared to ask! 

So, let everyone examine their own heart. Do we believe with the heart or the head when we pray? Is it just a theoretical, traditional prayer we pray without expectation? Or do we believe in our own faith – and are misconnected?

Paul says:

"For with the heart one believes …"

Rom 10:10