Proverbs says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (24:10). Not acting in faith, will result in weakness of mind and body. I once met a couple stripped of all earthly goods, but possessed of great faith. Crippled, due to a stroke, he had to beg for his necessary food. They lived in a small clay house, unprotected from the weather elements, but what they were strengthened with these words: “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good courage, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). At only 15 years old, I marveled at their faith and have never forgotten their testimony. That genuine faith, we must embrace. Faith in persecution, faith in poverty, faith in trials, it is enduring faith. It is manifested strongly in the endurance of the life’s valleys and deserts. If you will not believe in God and His Word, surely you will not be established nor will you remain (Isa. 7:9b). For our strength comes from enduring faith. Obviously, we do need it to be overcomers in this world of temptations and trials. It is by faith that we will be transported to heaven; its strength is powerful and capable to take us upwardly. Faith, should be the Lord’s redeemed way of walking.
The Apostle Peter dared to confront a storm of great proportion, when he asked the Lord to command him to come Him on the water. While held unto faith, His eyes firm on the Lord, he walked on water without problems. The moment his eyes focused on the storm, fear took over his mind and he almost sank right before the Lord. He cried out, Lord, save me! That is the picture of our today’s daily living when faced with life’s storm. The Word of God never lost the power to rescue, to provide for us in times of our needs; God’s Word is very powerful when believed, when practiced every day, when we make it part of our life. The Word of God offers complete help in our trials. It says, “God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present and well proved help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). The Word of God must be mingled with faith. But as Peter’s lack of faith, so is ours. When circumstances of great pain arise, we lose the ability to think and reason according to the Word of God; frightened, we begin to sink in the waters of doubt and fear. O we of little faith! YAHSHUA, after rescued Peter, He said to him, “O you of little faith. Why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:31b) Where are we in our relationship with our heavenly Father? We have faith, but we don’t. It disappears when we need it most. Do we truly believe Who He said He is, or do we just go through the emotions, pretending to know Him, without really knowing Him? Faith is a gift from God, but sadly, we all suffer from misunderstanding its true meaning; its concepts and reasons.
Three times Paul asked the Lord to remove from him a thorn in his flesh; three times the Lord said no. Paul didn’t get frustrated; he submitted to God’s will. His faith elevated him to a place of closer relationship and dependance on God. The Lord’s answer to him was, My grace is sufficient for you; My strength and power are made perfect in weakness. Therefore, Paul concluded, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities that the strength and power of Christ may rest upon me! So, for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak, then I am strong (II Cor. 12: 9-10). A testimony of faith, one that can be applicable to all of us in every circumstance, when we do not experience God’s answer to our prayers, as we wanted Him to answer. Behind Paul’s strength in submission to God’s will there was the word faith. How pleasing it is to our heavenly Father when we walk in faith that causes us to submit to His will in understanding of His purpose of sanctification!
A prayer:
Lord, I am just a speck of dust, needing Your light of understanding, as I go through the trials of life. Seemly, so long, I ask You, How much longer can I endure this testing of my faith? As long as it takes to conform me to be more like You? May Your will prevail then. As Paul, I will submit to Your will, until the storm passes by and faith transports me to You.
In Yahshua’s name. Amen!
Light from the Word 