Cycles
I believe faith works in cycles.
I believe mature faith will build upon itself in a crisis, trial, or in challenging circumstances. I believe immature faith will fizzle out in the same situation without the intervention of the Holy Spirit.
Mature faith will recognize and see that God is in the trial or crisis, He is not allowing the trial or challenge to go on without a reason, and He is part of it. The best Scripture to illustrate this concept is James 1:2-4:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Remember: The word testing here is not your standard pass/fail evaluation, but a proving of your faith. So, this passage emphasizes the trials we face or endure are proving our faith and developing perseverance, which does what? Makes us mature and complete, lacking nothing. This is the cycle that builds our faith – a mature perspective recognizes the trial is merely a proving ground for our faith.
Mature faith accepts God is in the trial or situation and leads us to freedom from the trial.
Immature faith blames God for the trial or situation and leads us to rebellion. Yeah, this is the voice of experience speaking to you on this one. Can you nod to yourself and recognize times when you blamed God for something you were enduring? If you didn’t change your perspective, how did it end? Not well?
Been there, done that!
A story from Daniel is probably at the top of the Bible lists for examples of mature faith. We find this one in Daniel 3:14-18:
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Daniel’s friends were facing a fairly tough situation and testing (or proving) of their faith. Their response is what turns this whole story around when they tell the king, “Hey, our God can save us, but even if He chooses otherwise, we are still going to be obedient to Him. Live or die, we trust Him” They recognized that God was with them, He promised never to leave them, and He had a purpose in this trial.
This is the kind of faith that builds upon itself in a cycle. The rest of the story in Daniel details how they were thrown into the fiery furnace, yet did not burn up. Can you imagine the kind of faith they must have had following this event?
What will bring Christ into your crisis? What will it take for you to recognize God is with you, He promised never to leave you, and He has a purpose in your trial? Do you have confidence that Christ is able to rescue you and deliver you from any and every crisis? Do you have confidence you are in His hands?
Do you need this kind of faith right now? Hebrews 12:2 tells us to, “…fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” If Jesus is the author and perfector of our faith, then He is the source of our faith and the One who perfects it in the times of trial.
I believe if you need this kind of faith right now, it is up to you to ask God for it. Ask Him for the faith to endure your crisis, to see Him in the middle of it, and for the strength to overcome. This simple prayer works – again, you have the voice of experience speaking.
Contact me if you need some help with this prayer or if I can help you in another way.
Glenn Sasscer
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