Do you have the grit to grow in your faith? Or, is your time with God just ho-hum? During the days of COVID-19, have you grown closer to God….or farther away? I’ll admit, it has been weird to just do online church and zoom bible study. It’s not necessarily my cup of tea.
God Doesn’t Waste Anything
But have you ever stopped and wondered what God is doing right now? I️ mean, seriously, has He abandoned us to wander and squander all by ourselves? The answer is “ABSOLUTELY NOT”. God never leaves us forsakes us (Deut. 31:6). Nor does He sleep or slumber (Ps. 121:4). Rather, God is constantly at work (Ps. 68:19).
Peruse all the times it appears that God is not present in the Scriptures. Why, in the book of Esther, God’s name is not even mentioned. Not even once. Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites wander in the wilderness, cower at the sight of a Philistine giant, shudder at the sight of the enemy army, bow to substitute gods like a golden calf and enemy kings, and do the tango with sin time and time again.
Dig your heels into the plotlines and most likely, you can start to relate, “Where in the world is God?”
God Tests Our Faith
Often when it appears that God is not working, His greatest work occurs. In the silence. The shadow. We must peer deep to see it going on.
God’s economy is different than ours. He is not consumed with fancy cars, big houses, and fat wallets. Instead, He wants people who show grit in their faith. When the going gets tough, the tough turn to God. That’s what it is all about.
Faith is the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). It requires taking a step, even when you cannot see (2 Cor. 5:7). Believing amid the opposition, suffering, setbacks, and failures. And it often takes the testing of our faith to reveal what is in our hearts (Deut. 8:2).
When life is easy, we coast in cruise control. Grow independent. Comfy. And may I️ say, lazy towards God. But when difficulties come, the true character of our heart is revealed. A shallow faith will be anxious and worried, shaken by today’s current events. On the other hand, a faith full of grit stands firm, counting it all joy when the trials come.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. James 1:2
God Can Use Failure
One final word, that my son taught me this week. When you fall, get back up. Stay in the game. Because the real action happens when you participate. And maybe its time you get back up, show grit in your faith, and get back out there! Watch the video to see what I️ mean.