How To Have Faith During Hard Times

What is it that causes even the most devoted Christian to stumble and fall? Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, the answer lies in our sense of sight and feeling. We live in a world where our senses of sight and feeling can lead us astray, causing us to stumble into sin, deception, and neglecting God. However, God's word offers us a different path—a path of faith and obedience regardless of what we see or feel. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, we're reminded: "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

How often do we allow our circumstances and what we perceive with our physical eyes to dictate our faith? When suffering comes and hardship strikes, we could become disheartened and lose our enthusiasm. However, faith demands that we believe in what we cannot see and to serve God regardless of how we feel. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Our faith is not empty; it is grounded in the evidence of God's word, not in what our eyes can perceive. Our evidence for faith is found in the word of God. As Romans 10:17 declares: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

The heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 endured unimaginable trials: cruel mockings, scourgings, imprisonment, stoning, and even being sawed in half. Yet, they persevered by faith, not wavering in their commitment to God even though they did not receive the promised reward in their lifetime. The world was not worthy of them, for their eyes were fixed on the eternal promises of God.

Beloved, as we walk by faith and not by sight, we must also cultivate patience. Our fleshly nature craves instant gratification, but faith requires us to wait upon the Lord's timing. We live in an era of lightning-fast technology where we expect immediate results, but God's plan unfolds according to his perfect wisdom and timing.

When the world seems appealing, we could start to question God's existence and give in to its allure. When worldly possessions glitter, we may neglect the eternal rewards of Heaven which we cannot see. When the world tempts us with enticing sights and our flesh yearns for vain pleasures, we must cling to the promises of God's word as our unwavering truth.

Finally, our faith and the word of God work hand in hand as our defense and offense against the enemy's attacks. Ephesians 6:16 instructs us to "take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." And in verse 17, we are commanded to wield "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Our faith is our shield, deflecting the fiery darts of the wicked, while the word of God is our offensive weapon, striking down the lies and deceptions of the enemy. Together, they form an impregnable fortification, shielding us from attacks and enabling us to advance against the adversary's schemes.

Brethren, let us resolve to walk by faith and not by sight, anchoring our hope in the unchanging word of God. Let us embrace patience even when the promised reward seems distant, trusting in God's perfect timing. And let us take up the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit, boldly engaging in spiritual battle, knowing that our victory is secure in Christ Jesus. May the Lord strengthen our faith, fill us with His word, and enable us to live as overcomers, bringing glory to His name. Amen.

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Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

- The Christian King