Satan would like us to believe that God isn’t that faithful. Actually, he’d like us to believe God isn’t real at all, especially when we’re hurting. It’s one thing to believe in God when things are honkey-dory. But when we’re hurting and things aren’t going the way we desire it to be, that’s when he comes to make us feel that believing in God is foolish.
The Bible tells us,
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. {Hebrews 11:1}
Even when we’re hurting, especially when we’re hurting, it is crucial in our walk with God to keep believing. Faith is not necessary when things are going our way, it wouldn’t be faith otherwise. When things aren’t going the way it should be, that’s when we need to have faith the most. Daniel didn’t stop believing just because the presidents and the one-hundred and twenty princes came against him during the reign of Darius. As a matter of fact, after the decree was signed by the king to punish anyone that called on God within thirty days, the Bible tells us that Daniel went home and continued to pray to God (three times a day, as was his habit and routine). He didn’t let anyone stop him from believing. This was his only way out – his faith in God. Talking to God and making time for Him was the only power he had against these presidents and princes. He needed God even more at this very difficult time in His life. He mustn’t stop believing!
When Paul and Silas were thrown in jail for preaching the Gospel, at midnight they were heard singing and praising God. They weren’t supposed to do this. They were beaten and sore and thrown in there because they had preached the Gospel. But they knew their power was in continuing to believe in God, even when so many were against them. They didn’t sit and murmur and blame God for their predicament. They didn’t say to Him, “This is what we get for preaching the Gospel? We get beaten and thrown in jail? Where are you? Why have you left us?” Instead they praised Him and sang to Him and loved Him. It is no wonder then that soon after that the Lord shook that place and got everyone’s chains loose and the doors opened on their own accord. Their faith in God delivered them out of their situation in no time at all.
That’s why it’s imperative that when we’re hurting and when trials come to seek God even more, to believe in Him even more. It is our only way out. It is our only power against the principalities of this world that are coming against us. Without continuing to believe in God when it’s the most difficult, we will end up lost and beaten. Satan will have us for sure in no time at all. He will win over us and things will never end up working out for our good. It is only when we stay faithful in our love for the Lord will things work out for our good. It’s not when we give up believing.
Jesus encourages us to keep believing in Him even when it’s difficult. He tells us,
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. {John 16:33}
In this world, we are going to have troubles and sorrows, it’s a given. We live in a fallen world where sin and Satan and devils run loose everyday. They hate us beyond measure. If they see you following the Lord and wanting to live for him, they will make sure they cause you trouble. They don’t want us loving God. They’re so jealous of the love that God has for us that they will try their very best to snare us away from God. They will do anything to discourage us from following the Lord, because they hate the Lord and want to hurt Him. But like I said, our only power in this life against Satan and the principalities of this world is God. Turning away from God and stop loving Him isn’t going to keep troubles and sorrow from coming. As a matter of fact, you’ll have more of it because now you have no protection from God at all. You have no help at all. Satan hates everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike, simply because they’re the creation of God and God gave His life for them. The only way to fight Satan and against the principalities of this world is to cling even tighter to our faith in God, and to call on God in times of our trials and sorrows, because He will come and help us and save us. Like Daniel, it is even more crucial to get on our knees and pray and talk to the Lord. It is our only way out of all our trials and tribulations, because His love is faithful and He will come and save us.
We have wonderful promises the Lord has given to us. When we call upon His name during our time of trouble, He will save us and deliver us. He encourages us to,
Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. {Jeremiah 33:3}
And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. {Psalm 50:15}
If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it. {John 14:4}
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. {Acts 2:21}
We are in the last days the scripture is talking about. The love of many has waxed cold and man has become a lover of himself more than God. It is becoming more and more challenging to keep believing in God, to keep hanging in there with our faith in Him. The world is ever more turning away from God. Everywhere we look our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, you name it, are turning away from God. Our public school systems are teaching our children to believe in science and abandon God. It seems to me everywhere we look today God is far away from everyone’s thoughts. Our world has become very self-centered and lust driven. Everyone wants to have more money, prestige, fame, materials things, on and on and on. Everything except God. We eat more food, have more clothes, have more money, and have so many more things than our forefathers had ever experienced in their lives. More of everything, except God. Yet for so many of us, we are still not satisfied. Jesus warned us about these things. He told us,
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. {Luke 21:34-36}
Our power against the onslaught of sorrow and temptation from the enemy is in prayer, fasting, and spending more time with God. The Lord will help us to keep believing in Him. Without God’s help we are lost. It’s not time to stop believing in Him, but more than ever to come to Him, and talk to Him, and commit everything to Him.
Our God loves us so much. He will not leave us nor forsake us. He is here for us until the end. He is faithful in His love for us. If we are faithful to Him, He will be faithful to us. If we continue to wait on Him in prayer and in supplication, He will continue to come and reward us with answered prayers. The key thing is to keep believing in Him no matter what happens.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. {John 14:27}
And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. {Jeremiah 29:13}
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. {Hebrews 11:6}
Prayer
I love You, Lord. I thank You for Your love for me. I thank Your for giving Your life up for me at the cross at Calvary. Without the shedding of Your precious blood there wouldn’t be any remission for my sins. I thank You so much Father for Your great sacrifice for me.
Lord, we are in the last days and the love of many has waxed cold. It seems to me so much easier to just forget about doing what You want us to do and be what the world wants us to be. There is such a tidal wave coming against us of wanting to do what the self wants to do. Please Jesus, save me. I don’t want to be lost. This is exactly what Satan wants for me to do, to stop believing in You and to do what I please. I know that he will do anything to discourage me to come to You. Please Savior, don’t let him win over me. Give me more faith in You. Give me more love for You. Give me more of Your Holy Spirit so that I can rise above all the trials and sorrows and tribulations I go through in this life. Don’t let me be lazy in my faith in You, Jesus. Please Father help me to keep believing in You.
I believe in You, Jesus. I believe with all of my heart that You will work all things out for my good because of my love for You and Your love for me, because I am called according to Your purpose. You are my life and You are my everything. I give You all the praise and glory, now and forever let Your name be magnified in my life. I pray all these things Father, in Your most wonderful and precious name, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.
#repost4/2019
