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When Faith Wavers
Many times in our lives, we’ll face situations
or circumstances that shake our faith or test
our resolve to remain fully yielded to the
LORD. These situations or circumstances may
happen in an instant — perhaps without warning
and faith is suddenly tested. That, or faith
may waver over a period of sustained stress or
in a series of disappointments or grief. All of
these are testings of faith. So, what do we do
when we face a testing of our faith and, more
importantly, what do we do when faith wavers?
Oftentimes when we face trials or have a testing
of our faith, our faith in the LORD is actually
strengthened and our resolve to stand firm is
increased. These sorts of experiences begin
with what are referred to in James as the trying
of our faith: “Knowing this, that the trying of
your faith worketh patience.” — James 1.3 We’re
exhorted to “count it all joy” in these times of
testing and trying and that this “trying of our
faith” is working in us the character of Christ
and that patience perfects us to that
character.
The other day in my Bible study I was writing
out Matthew 7 and came to the passage describing
doing the will of the LORD as the wise man did
or not doing the will of the LORD as the foolish
man did. And as I was writing, I realized that
the rain is like trials we face or testings of
our faith. When we’re yielded to the LORD and
obeying all He’s made known to us, then when the
rains (or trails) come, we’re secure because
we’ve been building on the rock---our security
is on the Rock. But if we’re going it alone or
doing things our way, then when the rains (or
trials) come, we have no foundation and great is
the fall of our life or of our faith.
I know that the building of a life on the
secure foundation of Christ requires faith and
in faith, our resolve to stand on that
foundation is increased every time the
foundation is tested. But this faith isn’t
something we muster or conjure up, rather, this
faith is a gift of the LORD and therefore, the
testings or the trying of our faith must then
also be from the LORD or allowed by the LORD.
Therefore, when He brings a testing of our faith
or allows a trial in our lives, we can also know
that He will provide all that’s needed to
accomplish, overcome or face each trial or
testing. He will sustain and guide as we seek
Him.
You’ve likely heard women say that the LORD will
not give us anything we cannot handle. Well,
surely if that were true, then why would we need
or even depend on the LORD? So then, in
reality, in and of ourselves, we can do nothing
— but in faith, Christ being our provider and
sustainer, we not only face, but also go
through, endure and overcome in life’s trials.
He is our sufficiency –nothing in and of
ourselves can save us, deliver us or carry us
through---truly, nothing but faith in Jesus.
And as we read on in James, we see that He will
deliver us or hear us or provide for us as we
trust in Him. When that rain comes and the
winds beat against our house, we stand firm
because we’ve built on the rock and the house
built on the rock doesn’t fall.
You may be smiling because you agree with what
I’ve written. You could have written this
yourself. And then you might be saying: but
what about when our faith wavers — not falls,
but wavers? I know what you mean – I hear what
you’re asking. My faith has wavered many times
through the years and likely will many more
times. You know what I do when faith wavers? I
look into the Word. I just open the Word and
begin reading — or, I might begin where I left
off at the initial wavering of faith (when
things didn’t appear so bleak). This may be
hours or days later. I go in and meet the
LORD. And you know what? Every time — every
time without fail — the LORD is already there.
He’s already been waiting beside my rocking
chair and He’s there when I open the Word.
There has never been a time that He failed to be
there ---before--- me.
I pick up my pen and I begin to write. And
even when I am pouring my heart of
disappointment, my heart of questions, regrets,
shame, pride, loss, gluttony, envy, bitterness —
whatever the matter happens to be: He is already
there. He cannot be anything but: there. The
omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, Sovereign
God is always faithful —I am not — He is! And
all those regrets, all those disappointments,
fears, losses, sins of omission or sins of
commission are laid at His feet. And His living
Word is like a stream of water that washes over
my soul and His promises are shown or proven to
be real, efficacious, true and precious. Every
time. At no time will you find it to be
otherwise. In faith, nothing wavering: you will
see Him there. You will find Him faithful in
His Word. He can be nothing else.
So, do this: if you’re wavering in your faith…
do this: meet Him in the Word. I don’t care
where you’re at, what’s going on, what’s
happening in your home, your life, your
marriage, with your children, with waywards,
with debt, with loss, with sickness, with
bitterness, with past abuse, with present fears
— whatever it is, wherever you are, whatever
you’re dealing with: meet Him in the Word. Meet
Him in the Word and keep on meeting Him. You
will never – never – never find a time where He
will not be there first. O, taste and see that
the LORD is good. He is good — His ways are
good. Build your house on the rock. When the
storms come and the winds beat upon your house,
you will see: the house built on the Rock will
stand.
God bless you as you seek to stand firm in Him.
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