Series on faith in God
We have been looking at faith off and on for the last few months. (Perhaps you might even think the title today applies to making it through this series.)
We have also looked at the obstacles that get us off track and keep us from receiving what God has for us. Let’s briefly look at where we have been.
The first part of faith is, 1. A word from God to stand on. The obstacle here is presumption. This is when you claim to be standing on a promise that God never made. You put your trust in this and act on it, but it leads to disappointment and makes both you and, more importantly, God look bad.
The second part of faith is, 2. Firm trust in God and God’s word to you. The obstacle to this is doubt. Doubt comes from the fear that God won’t come through for you. And so you begin to waver. “Should I trust God or not?” And so you don’t act.
The third part of faith, which we looked at last week is, 3. Appropriate action. We saw how action is what completes our belief in God’s truth and our trust in God, so that we have true, biblical faith. The obstacle that is, perhaps, particularly connected with action, and our focus today is giving up. What I mean is that you begin to act on your belief and trust, but then things get hard and so you quit; you give up.
Walking by faith isn’t easy
It is a common reality of walking by faith that:
- you will experience difficulties, and
- you will have to wait on God
In fact, I think we can say that it is rare that God acts suddenly or that there are no difficulties.
- Abraham waited 25 years. He was promised a son, but it didn’t take place until much, much later. And there were many trials and tests related to receiving this promise.
- The Psalmist says, “For you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer” – Psalm 38:15. The writer here is seriously ill and has enemies who are scheming against him. He’s going through a hard time and waiting for God to answer.
And we will often find ourselves in situations where we are in a test and it seems to be taking forever.
Why? Why do we go through difficulties and have to wait so that we need endurance? Let me say just briefly, God is working in us. God wants to teach us (Deuteronomy 8:3) and shape us and make us more mature. As James 1:3-4 says – “the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” This is God’s goal for us.
But also Satan is working against us. He is called our “enemy” (Matthew 13:39), and also our “adversary” (1 Peter 5:8). He opposes our attempts to walk in faith by making it hard for us.
So for these reasons it can be really hard to walk by faith. You will be tempted to give up. Let me ask you -
Where are you struggling with your faith?
Where are you tempted to give up? If you are in a situation like this I invite you to think about it as we look at the Scriptures this morning. If you are not struggling, let me give you some examples to work with.
Starting a new ministry: You step out of your comfort zone to do what you think God is calling you to do. But things don’t go well at first. Not a lot of people are interested and it seems really hard to you. You’re sure that God wanted you to do this, but you have acted and nothing is working out. What do you do?
Looking for a spouse: You’re single and you know it’s God’s will that you marry a believer. And you have prayed for God’s help. But no one is on the horizon. What do you do?
Well -
We need endurance
- in these situations. We need endurance in our belief, our trust and our action. Endurance means that you keep on doing what you are doing, despite the circumstances, and despite how long it takes.
- You keep believing in God’s truth
- You keep trusting in God and dealing with any doubt that comes
- You keep acting on God’s truth and your trust in God
Endurance means that you do all this, despite whatever problems come your way.
Now this doesn’t mean that you dig in and ignore everything around you, so that you have blind faith. If it really is difficult and taking forever, maybe there’s some presumption going on. It’s not a lack of faith to check. Jesus did this in the garden of Gethsemane. Just before the cross he prayed, “God, is this really the path you want for me?”
But once you check and affirm that you’re standing on firm ground, don’t give up!
And here’s -
Why you shouldn’t give up
God won’t let you be tested beyond what you can take. Now, I have wondered about this myself. Because it has certainly felt like it is more than I can take at times. I think, “I can’t take any more.” And then more comes.
But Scripture tells us that it is true. “God . . . will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13. God will not let us get in over our heads, and he will provide a way out in due time, if we look to him.
Another reason not to give up is that the answer might be just around the corner. Another reality of walking by faith is that God often acts when we are at our weakest. Think of Abraham. God acted when he and Sarah were both too old to have children. It simply wasn’t possible.
And with us a well, God often waits until we can’t do it in our own strength. So do you feel weak? Are you ready to give up? Maybe God is just getting ready to come through for you.
And then finally, it is those who endure who receive the blessing. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Don’t grow weary in your situation, because in due season you too will reap the blessing – “if you don’t give up.” This is God’s word to you today.
Listen to Hebrews 10:36. “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Endurance in doing God’s will is the key to receiving the promises that God has given us.
A personal story
After I finished my class work for graduate school in New Jersey I began to apply for teaching posts and nothing much came of it. The market wasn’t good. I also applied for Mennonite pastoral positions in Eastern Pennsylvania, but no one knew who I was and so they weren’t interested in me.
I was painting houses for income. Marie was a baby and I certainly felt the weight of having a job that would pay the bills.
It was early Winter and my painting boss told me that the work wasn’t coming in. I was already the last person working for him, and now I was to be laid off. I remember sitting in the house where I was working by myself and thinking, “What in the world!?” Nothing was working out.
It turns out I did get painting work, off and on. But we barely made it to the Spring.
It was time for a change. We got out a map one day and looked at the US and asked, “Where should we live?” We decided to move to Oregon.
After this, things started clicking. We made contact with a church opening in Portland. And after three months painting in Portland, I became the pastor of this congregation.
This situation lasted for months, with lots of setbacks and frustration. But God came through for us. And I tell you this because I want to encourage you to know that God will come through for you as well. This is my testimony. Just as God came through for me, God will come through for you in your time of trial.
William Higgins
