Image by A Perfect Heart via Flickr-"Overcome" written by Jon Egan
It is amazing what a little struggling can do to either increase or decimate the faith of a Christian. I have seen so many friends praise the name of Jesus in victory, only to cry out in fear and doubt at the mere hint of defeat. (The opposite is also true, many trust in Him when they are flailing and completely forget Him once life gets better...but that's a whole 'nother blog post...) A couple years ago, I would have said that God was punishing me with a hateful relationship with my spouse, a seemingly insurmountable mountain of debt, and the various illnesses and breakdowns that attacked my family. The truth was much less flattering to admit: God was allowing my faith to be tested, and I was failing miserably.
My faith disappeared as soon as the threat of a storm arrived - I didn't even have to actually see any dark clouds or hear thunder, just a warning that a storm might come and I went into panic mode. But here's the thing: by allowing my faith to dissipate and allowing the panic to overwhelm me, the threat ended up causing more stress than the actual event, if it even occurred.
Thank God, He put us in the parking lot of a church on a Sunday morning when I was 40 weeks pregnant and DESPERATE for a bathroom. Yep, it was a preggo potty break, in the right place, at the right time, and completely orchestrated by God because he saw our family falling apart for lack of faith in Him.
I would love to say that was the last time I ever had a faltering faith, but to this day I have moments where I am struck with the paralyzing fear that things will not, in fact, work out...that God is probably busy elsewhere and doesn't have time for my paltry problems...I am still flesh with all its failings. But each time the flesh fails, the Spirit within puts out the fire, the Scripture brings renewed peace and I begin again to build my faith from where I left off.
Even the disciples, after seeing Jesus perform miracles and healings, "knowing" that they were rolling with God, still lacked faith. In Mark, Chapter 4, we find our doubting friends in open water during a rather violent storm:
"So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?" When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:36-40)
Jesus was IN THE BOAT with them. And still, they lacked faith. So don't be ashamed if you have found yourself wondering where God is in your stormy times, and don't be afraid to admit that sometimes you might try "cover all the bases" just in case He doesn't show up. I would suggest that the next time doubt, worry, and fear threaten your faith that you stop, find yourself a "prayer closet" (aka anywhere that you can have "alone" time with God), and you tell God everything on your heart. Yes, He already knows it, but He is a gentleman; He won't step in until you invite Him. Once you've confessed your fears, doubts, etc., begin to thank God for being so good and so faithful. Thank Him in advance, because your victory is coming. And once you are back in right-standing in faith, you can step out of the prayer closet and attack the day.
I hope that I have reached someone with this. The faith walk is one that challenges me daily, and I know I am not alone. There are three things that God has given us to help us make it through. First, He gave us the Word - the bread of life and living water of which we are to partake daily. Second, he gave us prayer - open communication with our Lord and Creator through which we invite our Savior into our hearts and daily lives. And last, He brought us together into one body - the Church - where we are to fellowship, encouraging one another and reinforcing our faith together. If you are not part of a local church, let me encourage you to go out and try one this week. If it is not a good fit, try a different one. Don't let past resentment or betrayal in another church or by another "Christian" bar you from realizing the true sense of community and service that comes when you belong to the Body of Christ.
With all that said, let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You that You are an ever faithful God, even when our faith has dwindled. We thank You that even when we stumble in our faith walk, you are there to help us get back up, brush off the dirt of the World, and set us back onto our narrow path. Lord, we ask that You continue to put things and people in place that we might build ourselves up in faith and knowledge of Your will. Abba, we ask that you make us sensitive to the Spirit you've left to dwell inside each of us. Let the Spirit show us our weaknesses that we may bring them before you to be strengthened again. Father, we love You, and we thank You that You gave your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die so that we might live. We thank You and we praise You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for your love, guidance and grace. Amen.
I hope that I have reached someone with this. The faith walk is one that challenges me daily, and I know I am not alone. There are three things that God has given us to help us make it through. First, He gave us the Word - the bread of life and living water of which we are to partake daily. Second, he gave us prayer - open communication with our Lord and Creator through which we invite our Savior into our hearts and daily lives. And last, He brought us together into one body - the Church - where we are to fellowship, encouraging one another and reinforcing our faith together. If you are not part of a local church, let me encourage you to go out and try one this week. If it is not a good fit, try a different one. Don't let past resentment or betrayal in another church or by another "Christian" bar you from realizing the true sense of community and service that comes when you belong to the Body of Christ.
With all that said, let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You that You are an ever faithful God, even when our faith has dwindled. We thank You that even when we stumble in our faith walk, you are there to help us get back up, brush off the dirt of the World, and set us back onto our narrow path. Lord, we ask that You continue to put things and people in place that we might build ourselves up in faith and knowledge of Your will. Abba, we ask that you make us sensitive to the Spirit you've left to dwell inside each of us. Let the Spirit show us our weaknesses that we may bring them before you to be strengthened again. Father, we love You, and we thank You that You gave your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die so that we might live. We thank You and we praise You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for your love, guidance and grace. Amen.
