Building Strong Faith

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

Last Sunday, our pastor spoke of the trials that had befallen a woman who was seeking to answer her calling to the ministry. The more she pursued her calling, the rougher her life had become.

I have also heard him speak of his own early beginnings in the ministry where he loaded up a U-haul truck with all of his belongings along his wife and young family and headed to where he was sent. On the way, their truck was stolen along with all of their earthly possessions.

He talked of being angry and not understanding why God wasn’t rewarding him for being obedient.

But, he also spoke about the amazing grace of a congregation who jumped in and provided for every one of their needs. His family could not have experienced that love, that blessing, if their truck had not been stolen.

The Prosperity Gospel is wildly popular these days. It goes something like, if we follow God, we will receive everything we have ever wanted in worldly goods. Nothing bad will ever happen to us. It sounds so good that it’s very tempting to believe. Unfortunately, it’s contrary to the scripture.

What we find in the Bible, is that the closer we get to God, the rougher life sometimes gets.

My pastor explained it with a football analogy. If you see Nick Chubb run and make a touchdown and feel inspired to play football, then you would join a team. The coach would never give you the football the first day and tell you to run it. There are endless drills, and lots of running, and lots of blood sweat and tears that seem like they have nothing to do with being a star player.

But, the coach knows the truth: Star players are not born. They are built.

Anyone who remembers the original Karate Kid, remembers Old Mr. Miyagi, “teaching” Daniel-San the art of karate. He had him painting fences and waxing cars. It looked to the student like he was simply doing chores. But, Miyagi knew what he was doing and in the end, he was teaching Daniel-San to be a fierce fighter.

And so it is with us in our Christian walk. God wants to make us warriors who can do anything He calls us to do. He wants us to be fierce and wise. He wants us to be able to glorify His name and build His kingdom in any circumstances, not only the ideal ones.

Strength can only come from hard work and perseverance, and overcoming what sometimes seems like the impossible. Fortunately for us, the longer we walk with Jesus, the more we come to understand that nothing is impossible with God.

Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂