faith during our trial of waiting

One of the scriptures that first impressed me as a new Christian was where Jude urges us to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude :3). For nearly 40 years I have done that, seeking out scriptures and listening to the Lord so that I might be found to have faith. But I realize that many things come against our faith; trials, persecutions, hardship (such as poverty), and living our lives carelessly. Though trials, persecutions and hardships can sharpen our faith, carelessness will dull it.

Carelessness is a fruit of doubt and stems from not taking God, or His Word, seriously. It attaches itself to us most often during times of waiting. The longer the wait, the more the tendency to be careless about listening to the Lord. Our disappointment seems to wound us all the deeper if God doesn’t have a ready answer for our impatience, and the “I don’t care” attitude rises up as a ready defense for this hurt.

God has many reasons for doing things in His time, and not ours. We do not see instructions in the Bible for how God should behave. We do, however, see great counsel for us in our trials, and especially in our trial of waiting. We can consider God’s nature, as Abraham did, and that God is able to do the impossible, causing the aged to bear children. He also is able to raise the dead to life to fulfill His promises. This is good counsel when waiting on the Lord to bring His good promises to pass.

But how should we practice our faith when it is not necessarily a good thing that is to come to pass. We have heard prophecies about earthquakes, and a flood of which I myself have posted on this site. How does one maintain their faith during times where God draws the line in the sand and we do not want to be standing with those receiving judgment? Though this may seem over simple, we need to care.

Those whom God receives He disciplines (Heb 12:6). When we accept and are changed by the discipline of the Lord, we will stand on the right side of the line. Here is where carelessness enters in; if we think we can sin and receive a “time-out”, and then be returned to good graces with the Lord, we are mistaken. This is a careless attitude towards the One who holds out the word of life to us. Only children see their mischief as more of a reward than the punishment they will suffer for doing it.

The prophecies about the flood in California, and the earthquake, are not about God disciplining His people; they are about judgment. Judgment, though an unpopular word in most Christian circles, is about an irreversible change God brings about, catching some men on the wrong side of the line. Though we don’t want to see this happen, yet God has His reasons for judging the lives and works of men, and bringing a knowledge of His existence to the lost.

How does the Bible tell us to live, then, if judgment awaits us? Since judgment “ends” things as we know them, whether it be closure of businesses (or churches), or loss of housing, things do not return to the same state once judgment has come. Peter tells us “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Pet 1:5). He asks us to love one another, offer hospitality, and use our gifts for the benefit of the brethren (vs 6-11).

To begin with, we are to pray. This will get our minds on what the Lord has to say . . . for before judgment, we do not see things changing. Second, our works are to be for the sake of others, and not ourselves. And third, we are to walk in faith, stewarding the gifts God gave us, holding in our minds that it is His work through us that will benefit and help prepare others.

We see ourselves as imperfect people, always in need of cleansing by the Holy Spirit. Yet if we do not walk in faith, entrusting the care of our souls to the One Who paid the price to redeem us, we will never get our eyes off of our own insufficiency. Let us contend today for faith in our trials, hardships, and persecutions. Let us care about what the Lord has said in His word, and personally to us, and let us persevere in prayer and good works towards the brethren. When irreversible judgments come into our land, we will stand on the right side of the line. Amen.