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Listen while you read: "He Hideth My Soul"1 (Lyrics) |
Life events may temporarily shake my faith, but they can't destroy it.
Like most people's, my life's been a journey of mountain and valley experiences. I've enjoyed numerous good things along with pleasurable occasions, but the good has been sprinkled with challenges. Fortunately, none of the down times have shaken my faith, perhaps because I witnessed my parents maintain their resolve to follow God regardless of the circumstances, or maybe because I've seen so many others remain steadfast as well. But I've also known some whose faith was shaken by unpleasant life events. Some merely questioned God but kept following Him. Others walked away, not able to reconcile their dilemmas with a good God. Still others meandered somewhere between abandonment and obedience.
One of Jesus' very own disciples wasn't immune to shaken faith.
John 20:24-25 – One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." (NLT)
Thankfully, God doesn't discard me as unworthy to be His child when my faith is temporarily shaken. Jesus eventually revealed what Thomas requested. Having created me and taken on human flesh Himself, God understands my weaknesses and how easy it is for doubts and misgivings to unsettle me. Since faith in the spiritual excludes the tangible, it's even easier for my faith to be dazed during turbulent times.
Re-emphasizing my faith in times of senseless tragedies and extreme hardship makes it stronger than it was previously. I'm able to take this step because I'm convinced that God has my best interests at heart. Satan attempts to kill, steal, and destroy … but not God. He may allow Satan to sift me, but His purpose is to hone my faith, not shake it. And it won't be when it's firmly planted in Christ.
Are you experiencing shaken faith? Let God's love and promises stabilize your uncertainty.
Prayer: Father in heaven, when things come that have the potential to shake our faith in You, remind us of Your love and faithfulness. Amen.
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Thursday, April 18, 2024 – In East Asia — Pray for more partners who become trainers in our house church planting network in East Asia. We are asking God for around ten of these trainers for each district in our region. May the Lord grant them courage in their next step of faith.
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Yes — shaken — but standing. Thank you!!
Martin, Thanks for this word today. Yes, we may be shaken, at times, but we are not destroyed. Thanks be to God!
Well stated Martin.
During these trials, we need to be steadfast in our focus — Jesus Christ!
Blessings.
Great teaching Martin! Mark 9:24 also fits well with your message: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” It seems like a contradiction but even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.
Blessings.
Good Afternoon Martin:
A great message assuring us, God is always there with open arms and has our best interest in mind regardless of how extreme our hardship or tragedies appear to be at one given time. Let us never forget, satan is indeed very much alive and well on planet earth and does all within his power to attempt to kill, steal, and destroy our faith in our Master and Savior. However we as Christians are assured once saved, always saved, and that great promise gives us the will to firmly plant our trust in the Maker and the King realizing at the end of the day, He will never leave us nor forsake us.
A great, great message.
What a good Devotional for me to read today, most especially as I just had medical treatment. I needed a bit of a reminder this morning apparently! The diagnosis did indeed shake my Faith but I know that God is ever-present and HE will see me through this and give me the strength to survive cancer. We never do know what turns life takes and yes, our Faith may get a bit jarred now and then but we can always be comforted that our Heavenly Father is always there to help us through life’s trials with His strong arms to lean upon!
Do continue to write and pray.
God bless!
Amen!
Thanks for writing to us, Martin.
May Father bless you for your faithfulness, Martin.