What happens to our faith when we face financial disasters, illness, loss of income, tragedies, or suffering? We question God, we fret, we try to work it out on our own, and we doubt God’s love for us. We wonder if we have failed and God is so tired of our failures that He quit listening. So where do we go? How do we hold tight to joy in our salvation when it seems that God is not answering us or even listening? Where do we find our faith? There are two major elements of faith on which we can anchor our soul as outlined in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Element #1: Believe that God is. Do you believe that God is the Creator of the Universe? Do you know that He is omnipotent, omniscient, perfect righteousness, perfect love, Glorious King who reigns over all the earth? Do you believe that? Look at the manner in which Paul presented God to the people of Athens. "24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." Acts 17. Do you know and really comprehend who God is? If you understood who He is, then why do you worry? Do you not realize that it is He who gives you life and the next breath that you take? Did not Christ say, (Matthew 6) "31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." So once more my question is, why are you worried and fretting? Sometimes your own doubts as to who He is bombard your mind with so much noise that you cannot hear His voice. In those cases, keep reading the scripture, search the attributes of God, list them, pray and then be prepared to hear His soft gentle voice awaken you in the middle of the night to sing a song of comfort to you. The middle of the night may the only time your soul and mind are still enough to hear His voice; but, I will assure you as you seek to know Him more–He will answer.
Element #2: Believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Do you know His promises to all who believe in Christ as their Savior? Do you believe Romans 8:28-30? Read this very carefully, "28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." All things, not just the things that look beneficial, not just the easy things, not just the glory filled moments; but, rather all things work together for good. That means even what you may think is a valley, God means for good. Only He knows how all the parts when woven together will help you to look like His son, justified, purified, and glorious. He knows what is needed to transform your self-exalting, covetous heart into one that can be filled with overflowing Joy, Hope, and Love that is found only in Him. Nothing comes into the life of a believer but that which God has allowed to help purify them so that they are a vessel that can receive His magnificence. You do not know Joy until you have fully realized His Joy. Do you believe that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him? Are you seeking Him? Don’t be an Eeyore here, "well, I knowww He does; but mayybee it wasn’t meant forrr mee?" Perhaps I know that one because I use to be like that. What a foolish, self-centered thought to believe that God’s grace applied to everyone except me as though there was something uniquely different in how God looked at me. Oh, yes, God saw my sins and my failures which generally came out of a lack of faith; still, He patiently, gently has continued to His work of transformation in my life. He has sifted, polished, and purified my life (sometimes in-spite of me) so that I look more like Christ today than yesterday and I know He will finish the work He began in me. He is the precious treasure that I seek.
As you may have noticed in the previous blogs, recently I underwent one of those great aha moments (an epiphany of sorts) in which I suddenly felt as Abraham must have felt when Isaac was laid in his arms. I saw God’s mighty hand perform and complete a promise made to me 33 years ago–what a leaping bound took place in my faith. How could I ever doubt Him again no matter what the circumstances? So, dear friend, if you are in one of those circumstances where God says wait; trust me, it will be worth every moment you have waited. All of this I have written to those who know Christ as their Savior; but if you do not know Him, don’t you want to? He loves you, Christ died for you, and He desires to have a relationship with you–today, this hour, this moment–won’t you ask Him into your heart?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOm2mMusqUw (Preview)