I have a friend who’s gone through a hard year. He’s a believer, but a key relationship in his life dealt him a devastating blow. Heart wrenching betrayal and rejection have left him feeling weak and vulnerable. He admitted that his circumstances have caused him to doubt God’s love for him, and even to wonder if He even exists at all.
These kinds of life altering events can render us feeling so sad, we’re hardly able to function. They can include losses of jobs, material possessions, and relationships. Or medical diagnoses which radically change the course of our lives.
How do we muster our faith in times like these?
Mustering Our Faith
Muster–to assemble troops as for a battle, to gather, to summon, to rouse
Regularly, we have repeated opportunities to gather and summon our faith. Like working out in the gym, rousing our trust, when things aren’t smooth, builds muscle memory and strengthens our faith.
How do we muster our faith when we feel weak and God seems distant? Following are a few musts.
We Must Remember God’s Sovereignty
God is always in control. Nothing can thwart His purposes. He’s able to work all things together for His greater purposes. [1] Even the very hard situations we face are no surprise to God. His power transcends human sin, worldly corruption, and evil designs.
Joseph told his brothers that they had intended him harm, but God had used it for good, saving many lives. [2]
God used Jonah’s disobedience to elicit praise from the folks on the ship to Tarshish. [3]
The Jewish leaders’ evil plan to kill Jesus resulted in the salvation of humanity.
God has entrusted us with each circumstance we’re in and desires us to trust Him and not lean on our own understanding. [4]
We Must Orient Our Lives from God’s Greater Story
Paul tells believers that since Christ raised us up, we should set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. [5]
An eternal perspective reveals God working for our ultimate benefit. He’s working all things to conform us into the image of Christ, not for us to experience a smooth ride. [6] It’s vital for us to understand this. If not, we can view God as a distant dictator, out to destroy our hopes and dreams.
We need to live now with the end in mind. This life centers on emulating Christ, not mere temporary happiness. For we died and our lives are now hidden in Christ. [7]
We Must Realize Being with God is Our Highest Joy
The Bible has an overarching theme, woven into the fabric from Genesis to Revelation. God with us.
David confidently stated that the shadow of death could not make him afraid, as he believed in the presence of God with him. [8] He also wrote that in God’s presence, joy is full. [9]
After crying out to God concerning the unfairness of life, Asaph concluded that God’s nearness was his good, not his lot in life. [10]
While imprisoned in Rome, Paul urged us to rejoice in the Lord. Not just when we feel like it, but always. [11]
We Must Remember God’s Love for us Never Fails
No matter how often we fall short in actions and faith, God’s love for us never fails, it’s everlasting. [12] His lovingkindness never ceases. His mercies are new every morning. [13]
Before creation, God established us as His children. Nothing can separate us from His great love. We can describe His love for us as deeper, wider, longer than an ocean, and higher than the heavens. It surpasses our ability to comprehend. [16]
Challenge
What current challenges make you doubt God’s love or even His existence?
Talk to God about these things. That’s what David and other Psalmists did. If you journal, write them out. If not, talk to God about these things out loud. He wants us to bring our cares to Him.
The ‘musts’ above are not exhaustive, but they may help you muster your faith. Try them.
Prayer
Lord, we come to You now. You know the place we’re in. You’re not surprised by any of it. You’re with us and have allowed all things for our greater good. Help us not to doubt Your ways. May we draw near to You and walk in utter dependence upon You. You never intended us to face these things alone. We depend upon Your strength in our weakness. Amen.
And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 NASB)
Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10 NASB).
[1] Ephesians 1:9-12
[2] Genesis 50:20 (NASB)
[3] Jonah 1:14-16
[4] Proverbs 3:5-6
[5] Colossians 3:1-2
[6] Romans 8:28-29
[7] Colossians 3:3
[8] Psalm 23:4
[9] Psalm 16:11b
[10] Psalm 73, 73:28
[11] Philippians 3:1, 4:4
[12] Jeremiah 31:3
[13] Lamentations 3:22-23
[14] Ephesians 1:4-5
[15] Romans 8:35
[16] Ephesians 3:14-19
Other posts in our series In the Moments:
Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing
Exploring Grace and Joy together
Quiddity. It Could Change Your Life
Finding Joy in Love and Relationships
When I don’t Feel God’s Loving Kindness
Experiencing Completeness in Christ
On the Fifth Day God Created Dog
A No Lose Situation, Even with Cancer
Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
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Nonfiction books by the Author:
Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn’t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God’s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.
For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It’s not just a good idea, it’s vital to our journey as human beings. Rhythms of Joy
Novels by the Author:
What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for? Beyond Time
By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains
Please Check out the Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.
