I want to talk about maintaining your faith in the face of trouble. Look at Romans, chapter eight verses 31 to 39. I won’t quote the Book, my readers all own Bibles of their own and can read it for themselves. When you face problems in this life, and that is one thing Jesus promised will happen, the temptation to quit serving God will enter your mind. I know that from personal experience as well as from talking to others and reading it in the Bible. When such temptations come along, nothing has ever lifted my spirit and aided my faith more than this passage in Romans.
The spirits that test your faith will bring up you history of sin, trying to convince you that you are not worthy of God’s grace. Duh, that’s the point. If you were worthy, you wouldn’t need grace. The words of Saint Paul were written to reassure Christians facing government persecution in the capital of the empire. Just look at the glorious heights to which the passage rises. How can you be doubtful of your salvation in the face of such glory?
Whenever I am facing such times, this is the passage I turn to so I can stabilize my faith. This week has been rough on Ol’ Fuzzy. I went through the slough of despond Monday night and all day on Tuesday. This passage is what sustained me. By Wednesday morning, I was able to center and my prayers were affirmed in my soul. But in the deepest pit of my despair, this is the rope to which I clung to lead me through. Even when you are not under tribulation, this is the passage to go to for a lift in spirits. I’m sure it will lift yours too.
Psalm 23 is another way of saying this. Nowhere in the Bible does it say life is easy. It is full of heartache, and disappointment. The stories are intense with betrayal, and in the Old Testament, punishment. One thing that I really, really appreciate about the New Testament is that the God of fire and brimstone isn't there. It is about the power of accepting Jesus as relief to our suffering.
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