The Importance of Having Faith During Hard Times
Living a life for God is the most wonderful life we can lead. But when the storms come, it’s easy to waiver. Having faith during hard times can certainly be difficult when the lemonade you made from life’s lemons seems to have turned bitter. So, how do we nurture our faith when we face the worst times in life?
Remember Who GOD Is
God May Be Testing You
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar s you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
Remember the feeling of pop quizzes in school? The feeling of dread, nervousness, maybe even defeat if we were unprepared… During these moments, we sometimes had to just guess at the right answer and cross our fingers for good luck.
The good news is that, according to scripture, “the testing of your faith produces steadfastness,” (James 1:3). But it’s often in these unforeseen phases of life that we can find peace in not knowing the answer. In these “pop quiz” moments, we can trust the Lord to guide us and know that he has a plan for us.
With our faith, we can turn moments of dread or disappointment into opportunities to see what he has for us on the other side of the brokenness.
God Fixes Broken Things
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
We sometimes make a mess of our lives or experience the collateral damage of others making messes in our lives. It’s hard not to feel broken during seasons where everything is going wrong. But God will fix the shattered pieces that only he can mend if we allow him to be the healer we need.
Think about the account where Peter walked on the water with Jesus and began to sink. Our God will not leave us to ourselves to navigate the treacherous waves and winds that blow our way. Yes, it’s unnerving to not know what’s next, but his power and his love will reassure us.
God is Powerful and Keeps His Word
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Numbers 23:19
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”
When Jesus and his disciples were on the boat and a storm came, everyone was in a panic except Jesus. The Lord was asleep and was awakened by the disciples asking him, “don’t you care that they were about to drown?” But Jesus’ response was perfect. He calmed the storm and then said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:38).
The disciples had seen him heal the sick, miraculously provide, and speak words of life and wisdom. But when he said something as simple as, “Let’s cross to the other side of the water,” they forgot the plan and forgot his great power as soon as adversity struck.
Remember Who YOU Are
One of the most important things we can do when we face troubled times is to remember our identity in Jesus. Thinking about who we are helps us to focus our minds on the love, goodness, and power of our Heavenly Father so that we can press through the hardships.
So, who are we?
We are chosen (1 Peter 2:9)
We are forgiven (Romans 8:1)
We are children of God (John 1:12)
We have power over the enemy (2 Timothy 1:7)
We are overcomers (1 John 5:5)
We have a purpose (Ephesians 2:10)
No matter what comes our way, we have a hope and a future!
Having Faith During Hard Times: What Can We Do?
Our faith can easily waiver when the mountain top becomes the valley. But it’s not the will of God that we should despair or act blindly. So, what should we do?
Focus on Prayer: Seeking God’s voice during rough times should be our top priority before looking anywhere else to solve or endure our problems. Spend some time in his presence where we find joy, peace, and strength to endure the testing of our faith.
Remember His Promises: God’s Word is powerful and remembering what God has said about you and his plans for you is critical. Look up some scriptures about his promises, write them down, and reflect on them.
Ask for Help: As Christ’s church, we are meant to uplift, encourage, and carry the burdens of one another. If you feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek help from your fellow believers.
If you’re facing a storm today, you can emerge empowered to face the situation before you. The love and the power of your Heavenly Father is with you!