Faith in Hard Times
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
Trusting the Lord in hard times is essential because Satan’s goal is to destroy our faith through fear. When we are afraid we may seek immediate relief and take drastic measures to counteract the fear. We have basically three choices in fearful hard times: Put our faith in God; try to handle the fear with our own strength and wisdom; or escape the fear.
When we trust the Lord to guide us through hard times we reap the following blessings:
- And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We know that all things in our lives will work for good, and this includes both good and bad things. The Lord is always molding us to be more Christ-like, to have more love, peace, joy, patience, and confidence. The Lord will give us whatever we need to get through the hard time.
- And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). God is greatly pleased when we trust him to overcome Satan’s fear in hard times. It shows that we trust God with our lives and shows that our faith is based on his love.
- Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). When we trust God in hard times it shows that Satan cannot pull us away from the Lord based on our own understanding of the situation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12). If we really trust God we will trust his guidance through the Holy Spirit, and we will trust in his ways in his time. We continue to walk as his servant, being a light in this dark world; this is pleasing to God, and when he is pleased with us we are blessed. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23).
The more faith we have in the Lord the more peace and joy we have. For our faith to be realized it is necessary to always praise the Lord and to live as his servant. We praise and meditate on the Lord because it will give us peace and confidence in him. Serving the Lord by being a light for Christ keeps our thoughts from being self-centered. Satan’s goal is for us to be self-centered because it brings dissatisfaction, impatience, and fear. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 40:10).
Today walk in faith, letting your conscience be guided by the Spirit. Tell the Lord that you will fully trust in his ways and in his timing for all things. The more we verbalize our faith to the Lord, the more faith we will have. The stronger we think in the faith, the stronger we live in the faith.
Let’s Pray: Lord help me to trust you today and even more tomorrow. Draw me closer to you as I seek to do your will and keep Satan from making me self-centered by filling my mind with impatience, fear and anger. Instead, fill my mind and heart with love, peace, and joy. In Jesus name, Amen.