Enduring Faith
Faith is a powerful force that can shape our interactions in countless ways." But what does the Bible say? Where does it come from? The Bible reveals in Romans 10:17 that the source of faith comes from the word of God. This understanding empowers us, showing that a person's attitude toward the word of God is crucial for cultivating authentic faith.
The True Christian, the Good Soil, in the Holy Scriptures, we have the parable of the Sower, which explains the consequences of good understanding and the practice of the word of God, the source of faith. Faith, a source of inspiration, allows us believers, the good soil, to produce fruits. Therefore, faith is this confidence that will inspire us to walk, hope in Jesus Christ, and share this inspiration with others.
It is easy to follow God when everything is going well, and it's true! For some… but what about when everything is going wrong? "Will your faith remain strong during difficult times?" In unemployment, illness, grief? About three months ago, my dear sister in Christ, a friend and fellow worship team dance member, Jennifer, lost her husband after a long battle with cancer. She experienced a significant level of pain, grief, and sorrow. However, not hopelessness, defeat, or despair. Because her Christian faith allows her to raise her gaze and fix her eyes on Jesus, she believes her Sweet Prince is in heaven in a better place, as she always smilingly states. This does not mean that she has emotional amnesia, but it's just that her faith has given her the courage to face life’s brokenness and heal from her losses.
Trials and many other problems can arise at any given moment. Think about Job's situation when Satan afflicted him with distress, intense illness, loss, and suffering, thinking that Job would turn away from his Lord and abandon his faith. However, his faith endured. Job teaches us that we can have faith in God even during trials. Bad things will inevitably happen, but God does not abandon his faithful in times of suffering.
But then we also have people like King Saul in the Bible who, after being rejected by God for an act of disobedience, sought advice on defeating the Philistines in battle after previous attempts to consult God had failed; Saul consulted a medium to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel instead of humbling himself and asking God for forgiveness. Saul lost his faith, consequently lost the battle, and finally lost his life by committing suicide. Having faith during trials can build endurance, making us resilient and strong. Trials strengthen faith. God promises to help during trials, but you must ultimately choose whether to bend or endure under pressure.
