Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm. Isaiah 7:9b. NLT.
I read this portion of scripture a few days ago, and it struck me quite hard. The NKJV says “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established…”. As I have been walking through life’s challenges this past week, I realized, God is working in our hearts to help is stand strong in Him, His Word and His Ways. It is time my friends, to refresh your trust in Who HE Is!
It seems life has been more challenging for more people lately. It is like one of those video games where you start out on a easy level where things are at a slower pace and you can keep up. Then as you move up more levels, the enemy is firing more often with even stronger fire balls at you. For me, I get overwhelmed and quit. Which is an easy thing to do, because it is a game. Life not so much. Many of my friends are facing extremely difficult decisions about how to do life, financially, emotionally and spiritually. They are struggling, but standing. I have been praying for them, a lot! My trust in Him and His ways is either firm, or it isn’t. The good news is that God understands our shaky ways, and He has a plan.
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, be strong do not fear! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you. Isaiah 35: 3-4. NKJV Do your knees need to be strengthened? Are they feeling a bit feeble? I want to encourage you to cling to the Lord. Whatever you are facing, He will help you. He will show up and in His time the battle will be over. At times, during my own struggles, I think what would Jesus do if He were here? He would stand and win. Then I remember, He is here, fighting for me and with me. I can rest in Him, even during the fight!
Maybe your battle is with yourself. It happens. My advice? Just surrender to Him and His will, tell Him your struggles and lean in to Him. Surround yourself with believers who can help strengthen those weaker areas. But it really is up to each of us, to either choose to trust Him and His ways or not. To allow the fruit of the Spirit to be cultivated in our hearts versus allowing the works of the flesh to reign. Ask for prayer and counseling. Listen to it and apply it. Take courage from the testimony of others. I have never found Him lacking, myself yes, Him, never. I encourage myself with Paul’s many trials that are listed in 2 Corinthians. I haven’t been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked or thrown into prison for my faith. If he can do it and stay strong in his faith, I can go through my trials and tests, and so can you.
Maybe it is time for you to refresh your trust in the Who you are trusting. Don’t wait another day. Make the time to spend quality time in His Presence. You will find your hands strengthened, your knees firmed up and with a new resolve that life is doable. It is easy to forget, in the middle of so many battles, that we have a Savior, but we do! Answers to your prayers may take time, but fellowship with Him can happen at any time. And during the fellowship of our sufferings we can come to know Him in a deeper manner. Enduring hard things is part of what life is about. It is so much easier doing those hard things together with Him, than alone.
We must take time to consider, “do we want to grow stronger in our faith and trust, or do we just want to complain about our struggles?” God’s help is always available, but there are times when people resist His help. That is part of the reason Isaiah wrote “unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you firm”, again, it is our choice. My friends, choose Him, it’s always worth it.
Father, I thank you for renewing and refreshing our trust in Who you are. I thank you that as we read Your Word, we can discover You and Your Ways and they are good. I ask you to strengthen those who are feeling weak and feeble today. Send Your Word of encouragement to them, In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Faith Encounters 