I hate to wait. I know others who hate it too. I’ve seen people waiting for: 

• a delayed flight,
• an injury to heal, 
• a traffic light to change,
• an appliance to be repaired,  
• the right person to fill a job, 
• acceptance to Bible College, 
• money to build a church building, 
• the right time to announce an engagement, 
• a child to become available for adoption, 
• a wayward family member to return, 
• a heart to soften.

It’s easy to think that life is on hold until what we’re waiting for happens. Time spent waiting feels wasted and less than God’s best.

From sighs to foot tapping to anger and panic, few people show patience while waiting. Impatience causes us to do and say things we later regret (i.e., Sarah offering Abraham Hagar, Genesis 16), or we focus so much on what hasn’t happened that we miss the good around us. We fail to see the waiting room as a deliberate part of God’s plan for us.

Being one who naturally falls on the impatient side of the scale, a story about King Saul’s impatience in I Samuel jarred me. 

Being one who naturally falls on the impatient side of the scale, a story about King Saul’s impatience in I Samuel jarred me. #patience, #RechargeWednesday
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Saul’s Heart Problem

A Philistine army with soldiers as numerous as the sand, gathered against Israel. Israel’s soldiers quaked in fear at the sight. Samuel the prophet had promised to come in seven days to make offerings to the Lord before the battle. Day seven dawns. Israel’s soldiers are scattering while the enemy is gathering. Where is Samuel? What would you do if you were in King Saul’s place?

Saul felt “compelled” to make the offerings himself. He needed to get this battle going before he lost his army. Samuel arrived as Saul finishes the sacrifices. Listen to Samuel’s rebuke.

“You acted foolishly, you have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, He would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of His people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command” (I Samuel 13:13-14 NASB).

Whoa. You mean time-pressure was not Saul’s problem? 

No. Saul had a heart problem. 

Saul focused on his goal. His desire to win the battle wasn’t bad, but it eclipsed the higher goal of trusting God—both His will and His ways. It’s not enough to have good goals. We must seek to accomplish them God’s way and in His timing.

Isaiah 28:16 reminds us that those who trust in God won’t be in a hurry. 

Lord Jesus, help us trust You when obstacles slow us down. Grant us hearts that seek You more than our idea of when and how things should go.

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Sometimes when we beg the Lord for confirmation or a sign, what we’re really saying is that:

• We don’t want to walk by faith- we want to walk by sight.
• We don’t find His direction in Scripture enough.
• We don’t take Him at His Word that He’ll always be with us.

God’s leading often asks us to ‘go’ without us knowing the where. Or to follow with hope instead of with certainty.

God’s leading often asks us to 'go' without us knowing the where. Or to follow with hope instead of with certainty. @BethanyMcIlrath
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His confirmation often comes after our faith has grown.

“God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.’” –Exodus 3:12 

Just think…

Moses was standing in front of a burning bush, hearing the voice of God. He wasn’t entirely sure this was God. He had good reason to think that the people he was being sent to wouldn’t believe him. God was sending him back to a land he fled from because he was going to be killed there.

Moses would be returning to slavery to speak to oppressed, worn people who his relationship with was complicated at best. He was to tell all these people that God Himself had sent him, that generations of oppression were about to end with no warning, and that they were going to leave the mud pits triumphant and enter a glorious promised land they would call their own.

God was asking him to follow by faith, not by sight.

The sign? The confirmation?

It was going to come after all the crazy stuff. “When” Moses had obeyed, “when” the people were already freed, and “when” what seemed impossible was accomplished…that was “when” Moses would have it confirmed that it was indeed God who sent him in the first place!

Would Moses have even doubted by then?

God would be with Him. There would come a day after walking through very treacherous times by faith that Moses would return to the mountain where God first spoke to Him.

And THEN Moses would know what He needed to know most…

God was the One who sent Him. God, who said He would be with him, would have been beside Him all that time.

So it goes for us.

We walk by faith. We obey what His Word already says, even when we want more explanations and directions. We believe God that He is with us.

We trust that someday, we’ll turn around and recognize what is then behind us is one big, brilliant sign: God sent us, and He has been with us all the time.

Let’s walk by faith as Moses did, for:

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” –Hebrews 11:1

{A version of this post was previously published here}

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Oh you of little faith,” Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 14:31.

I get it. The guy was sinking. His succumbing to the waves, we’re explicitly told, is because he doubted. So yes, his failing faith left him flailing in the moment.

But before that?

Peter got out of the boat.

“Jesus,” I want to challenge, “doesn’t that count for something?”

It would make sense in my mind if Jesus called Peter’s faith “promising.” I’d like for Peter to have gotten some credit, a pat on the back, and another shot. Or at least the encouragement, “solid starter.”

But this isn’t the only time in Scripture God highlights the importance of finishing in the faith.

Thankfully, His Word offers all we need for godly living. With this sort of (sometimes frustrating) correction, He also offers helpful instruction on how to have lasting faith.

1. Don’t finish in the flesh- stick with the Spirit

“After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” –Gal 3:3

After posing this question, Paul goes on to talk about the means of the Spirit. He highlights that through the Spirit:

• We are freed from trying to keep the law to please God so we can please Him by believing Him
• We trust God and act according to His promises
• We live as children of God, clothed in Christ
• We don’t have to justify ourselves, Christ is our righteousness

2. Ask God for help in unbelief

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” –Mark 9:24

Instead of crying out that he was drowning and needed saving, Peter could have said “help me overcome my unbelief!” We have that option, too.

Like the honest Dad trying to do right by his suffering son, sometimes persevering in faith means admitting our lack thereof. God is faithful to help!

3. Keep your eyes on the real prize- Jesus

“Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ.” –Ph 3:14

Why do we have faith? Jesus. Who do we have faith in? Jesus. What does our faith believe? Jesus- crucified, risen, and eagerly awaiting us in eternity. He is our portion and our prize- plus our strength for persevering in the faith.

Faith lasts when we know that it is finished, and rely on Christ to help us persevere!

(A version of this post was previously published here)

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Unsafe people live, work, and worship among us. We think if we can escape their presence and any reminders of them, we’ll have peace. My experience in Switzerland reminded me peace doesn’t come from distance from them but from closeness with Jesus.

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David knew something about being maligned. His king and later his own son tried to kill him. David shares his hard-earned wisdom in Psalm 37.

“Do not fret. Do not fret. Do not fret.

The Lord knows our tendency to fret. Look at these verses.

Do not fret because of evildoers…

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes…

Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing” (Psalm 37:1, 2, 7-8, NASB, emphasis added).

I fret over the news. I grumble when I can’t find something a loved-one forgot to put back. How much more tempting it is to fume when mean people intentionally wrong us.

Our Father understands. But He knows fretting causes harm. Brooding turns us into wrongdoers. Like those who harmed us, we injure innocent people.

Scripture reminds us to take the long view. This person’s influence seems like it will never end, but they’ll “fade like the green herb.” In other word, don’t trip on a blade of withering grass! Instead…

Do good and delight yourself in the Lord.

“Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday” (Psalm 37:5-6, NASB).

Resting takes work. Notice the many positive alternatives God offers to fretting.

Clinging to God stops fuming and empowers us to overcome evil with good. We needn’t fear; unlike people, God is never taken in by our enemy’s slander. He exonerates those who commit their way to Him. With noonday clarity, He shows who is right and who is not. The ultimate judge knows the truth. And that is all that really matters.

While fretting turns us into evildoers, delighting in the Lord shapes our hearts to be like His. Our desires change. My Father, not mean people, determines my destiny.

While we may need to establish healthy boundaries, my time in Switzerland reminded me closeness with God protects us more than distance from our enemies. Those who trust in Him are never left as victims. In the end, we become victors!

Let’s choose to delight in Him instead of stewing over them.

Adapted from Give Yourself a Break:Discover the Secrets to God’s Rest.

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A snub and a rejection on the same day sent me sprawling. I sat down with my journal and dumped my hurt feelings. Usually, the lies I’m believing quickly surface when I do this exercise. God provides relief when I ask for His perspective. But this time, my feelings didn’t budge. The evidence supporting my injured emotions felt more reliable than the truth I knew.

That night as I slept God reminded me of a story concerning Elisha and his servant. The king of Aram was angry with Elisha and wanted to capture him.

“So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.

When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. ‘Oh, sir, what will we do now?’ the young man cried to Elisha.

‘Don’t be afraid!’ Elisha told him. ‘For there are more on our side than on theirs!’ Then Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!’

The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (2 Kings 6:14-17 NLT).

This scene from Elisha’s life reminded me of Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (NASB).

Biblical faith rests in God and His promises. It doesn’t need physical evidence to rest. It looks at the character and reliability of the One who spoke worlds into being.

When we live by sight, like Elisha’s servant, our emotions fluctuate like Oklahoma weather. If we live by faith, like Elisha, even when the world is turbulent, we can experience the peace of God. Faith knows the reality of the invisible, spiritual world.

When we live by sight, our emotions fluctuate like Oklahoma weather. If we live by #faith, even when the world is turbulent, we can experience God's peace. #RechargeWednesday
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I jotted down truths my faith knows.

God—

• Loves me ( Jer. 31:3; Jn. 3:16)
• Values me (Matt. 6:26)
• Leads me (Ps. 23:3)
• Provides for my needs (Ps. 23:1)
• Didn’t mess up when He made me (Ps. 139:13-14)
• Has given me everything I need to live a satisfying life and to glorify Him (2 Pet. 1:3)
• Is bigger than any mistake I make (Rom. 8:28).

Biblical truth cut through my emotional fog and untied the knots that bound me.

Are you in a battle? Does it feel like your emotions are winning instead of your faith? Take them to the Lord and ask Him to open your eyes. Some feelings may be stubborn, but don’t dismay. They will eventually go away when we take our thoughts captive and meditate on God’s truth.

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When this storm passes—then I’ll rest in God.

When I’m out of debt—then I’ll trust the Lord.

When I have more experience—then I’ll live by faith.

When/then faith is not faith at all. Putting conditions on trusting God keeps us living by sight. And faith “is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1 NIV).

Living by sight deprives us of joy and peace. It’s unbelief.

Waiting for an Experience?

If extraordinary experiences built strong faith, everyone who witnessed the parting of the Red Sea would have gold-medal quality faith. Yet, that’s not what happened. Remember the scene with me.

Israel stood hemmed in between Pharaoh’s approaching army and the Red Sea. Had God brought these unarmed slaves out of Egypt to destroy them?

The angel of God, who’d gone before them, moved behind them. The pillar of cloud also circled around and stood between Israel and Pharaoh’s chariots. A strong east wind whipped through their camp creating a dry path through the middle of the sea. The next day, Israel padded across between heaped walls of water.

From the other side Israel looked back. Cold fear ran down their spines. Pharaoh’s chariots raced toward them.

The chariots reached the middle and stalled, like an insect stuck on flypaper. As the chariot drivers beat their horses, the walls of water collapsed over Israel’s enemy. Israel was free. Or were they?

Would such an experience boost your faith? Except for Joshua and Caleb, Israel seemed to forget this experience. They shrank back when God told them to enter the Promised Land. Instead of comparing their enemy with God, they compared themselves with their enemy and felt like grasshoppers.

Listening to God’s Stories

In contrast to Israel’s experience, Rahab heard how God parted the Red Sea. Instead of being promised a land flowing with milk and honey, God promised to overthrow her people.

Who had more reason to trust God? Israel or Rahab? Yet, with little knowledge and no experience, Rahab acted on what she knew.

Who had more reason to trust God? Israel or Rahab? Yet, with little knowledge and no experience, Rahab acted on what she knew. #RechargeWednesday
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“In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:25-26 NIV).

Rahab hid the two Hebrews and asked them to spare her family’s lives. They agreed under the condition she stayed put in her house. The spies didn’t know God planned to crumble the wall Rahab’s house was built into.

Rahab obeyed and stood on God’s promise—

                        Even when the wall on which her house stood crumpled…

                                    Even when screams pierced her ears and her family wanted to bolt.

God saved Rahab and her family. Four New Testament books remember her. Two hold her up as an example of faith.

Hundreds of thousands of fighting-aged adults crossed the Red Sea, but only Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land. More knowledge and more experience didn’t make great faith.

Israel focused on the size of their problem and died in the wilderness. Rahab focused on the size of God and became part of God’s people and Christ’s genealogy.

Are storms, illnesses, or human errors bigger than your God? The crashing of Jericho’s walls felt like Rahab’s destruction, but they signaled her deliverance. Unshakable faith is built on the character of God, not on experiences.

Want to know more about Rahab and our Big God? Check out Little Women, Big God.

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Sometimes we lose sight of the basics to our Christian faith. The elements of Christianity setting us apart from the world and other religions.

They are essential to help us grow in relationship with Christ. And they are the spiritual tools we need to live as a believer.

So, here are the ABC’s of a Christian life.

A-F Basics for Our Christian Faith

Abide in Christ. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5, ESV.

Believe God. Believe what God says and who He is. Because when the journey turns bumpy, our Christian beliefs carry us over life’s potholes. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” Romans 4:3b, NIV.

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Confess. Confess our sin against God, own it, and take responsibility for when we go in the wrong direction. Because sometimes we fall into sin or we fail to walk in the direction God instructed (Proverbs 28:13 and James 4:17).

Declare God’s glory and works. We declare His glory and works to others and ourselves. In other words, preach it. Then preach it to the choir. “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” Psalm 96:3, ESV.

Encourage other believers. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV.

Forget what’s behind. Looking back on our life may help us move forward. But Jesus never intended for the past to paralyze us (Philippians 3:13-14).

G-L Truths of Our Christian Faith

Give all. We give our heart to Jesus. Yet, it never ends there. Giving Christ everything: our cares, desires, goals, and relationships (1 Peter 5:7, Romans 12:1).

Hope in the Hope-giver. False and weaker forms of hope exist. Yet, true hope is only found in the Lord. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” Romans 15:13, ESV.

Imitate Jesus. Not just following Jesus as a one time deal. But follow through by imitating His life (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Join the saints. Unite with other believers in the gospel and protect the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-13).

Know Jesus more. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18a, ESV.

Live on purpose. Be intentional about living the Christian life through the power of Christ (Galatians 2:20).

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M-S Basics of Our Christian Faith

Make disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19a, ESV.

Never turn back. Only turn back from our old self, never from the cross. “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world…” Galatians 4:9a, ESV.

Obey the Lord. Obeying the Lord and His commands is always for our good and His glory. Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28, NIV.

Pray without ceasing. There is power in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:14-16).

Quiet time with Christ. Spend time alone with Christ to mute the world’s constant noise and hear His voice (Mark 6:30-32).

Renew our mind. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” Romans 12:2, NIV.

Seek righteousness. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33, NIV.

T-Z Truths of Our Christian Faith

Trust in the Lord. God is trustworthy and faithful to His promises. “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:2, NIV.

Uphold the cause. The Lord upholds the cause of the poor, oppressed, needy, and fatherless. We’re called to the same ministry (Matthew 25:31-40, Psalm 82:3, Isaiah 61:1-3).

Value godliness. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come” I Timothy 4:8, NLT.

Walk in the Spirit. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” Galatians 5:16, NIV.

X-ray the inner man. X-rays allow us to view the inside for a diagnosis and treatment. The Holy Spirit views our inside to transform us into God’s likeness (Proverbs 20:27, Psalm 139).

Yield to God’s discipline. “…he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness” Hebrews 12:10b, ESV.

Zoom in on God’s Word. Zooming gives clarity to an image or content. As we magnify God’s commandments and promises, it gives clarity for Christian living (Psalm 119).

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What do you do when you come up against an unexpected or impossible problem? Try to fix it, panic or call for help? Mary, the mother of Jesus, models how I want to act.

At the beginning of His public ministry at age thirty, Jesus attended a wedding at Cana. Mary must have been helping at the wedding. When the wine ran out, she brought the problem to Jesus. You can read the account here John 2:1–11.

Mary said to Jesus, “They have no more wine.”

That’s it. No pleading, no explanation of how embarrassing or urgent this was, no pointing out how this might foster faith in His disciples. Just, “They have no more wine.”

To the servants she said, “Do whatever He tells you.”

Jesus told them to fill the ceremonial washing jars with water. They filled six 20-30-gallon jars to the brim. “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet,” He said.

I smile when I read this. Did the servant hold his breath when the host tasted the water? I picture his eyes sparking with relief when the master proclaimed, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

Personal Applications

1. Tell Jesus the problem—not the solution.
   When I bring my problems to God, I often suggest ways to solve them. There is nothing wrong with asking. But did you notice, Mary didn’t tell Jesus how to fix the problem? How could she? Jesus did something that defied imagination. When I focus on how I think He should act, I may miss the work He is doing.
2. Follow His instructions and leave the results with Him. 
   Mary didn’t supervise Jesus’ actions. She told the servants to do what He said. I’m sure His directions didn’t make sense to them. Because they obeyed, they experienced a miracle.

Jesus did something that defied imagination. When I focus on how I think He should act, I may miss the work He is doing. #RechargeWednesday
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Trust Jesus with My Problem

Mary knew Jesus’ compassion. She trusted His love, wisdom and ability. Perhaps Jesus had miraculously multiplied food for His family in the meager years after Joseph died. Satan knew He could turn a stone into bread (Matt. 4:3). After Mary told Jesus about the need, she left the problem in His capable hands.

If Mary didn’t feel a need to tell her son how to solve the problem, why do I think I need to come up with the solution for Jesus to execute? I only need to trust and obey Him. I can’t see His spiritual power at work anymore than I can see the wind. But when I trust Him, I will witness the result.

How can you apply Mary’s example to a problem you’re facing?

Adapted from Little Women, Big God.

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You say it when someone asks you to do something and you aren’t sure how to answer. The words are uttered in annoyance by kids everywhere as parents inquire about homework, grades, and missing toys. “…Anymore” is tagged on when tragedies strike and we’re left in shock.

Feelings of doubt, loss, vulnerability, and betrayal often overcome us when we realize that we don’t know something that we think we should, or that we want to, or that we thought we already knew. Consequently, not knowing is something that we have to live with, but also something that many of us despise.

God has plenty to say on the subject of not knowing to comfort those of us who really can’t stand being in the dark:

You know what you need to

In 2 Peter 1:3 we read that: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” It’s your knowledge of Christ that ensures that you know what you need to when it counts.

Sure, you might not know if you made a mistake graduating from that college. You’ll never figure out if accepting that job over this one would have led to an earlier promotion. But you know Christ, and that means you know how to seek and obey. Further, you know that all things will work together for good because you love Him and follow Him (Romans 8:28.)

You know that you can grow in knowledge

At this exact moment, you might find that there are things you hope to know but don’t know yet. Perhaps you’ve experienced hardship at length and little joy –you probably want to know what it is to revel in the joy of the Lord, for example.

Trust, wait, and seek to know. You can be “growing in the knowledge of God” as you find that “God…fills you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way” (Colossians 1:9-10.)

Just because you don’t know something now doesn’t mean that you never will. Trust God to teach you in time.

Just because you don’t know something now doesn’t mean that you never will. Trust God to teach you in time.
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You know enough to know what isn’t true

Paul prayed in Colossians 2:2-4 that believers “may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.”

Notice the reason he prayed for people to have understanding, wisdom, and knowledge. Paul’s point was that in having such knowledge of Christ people wouldn’t be deceived. The light shines to expose the darkness.

Though your knowledge may not feel complete and there may be mysteries that you don’t have the answers to (so irksome!) you can at least know what isn’t true. You can know enough by knowing Christ to understand when something is deceptive –to keep away from what is “falsely called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20.)

You know that He knows

Finding out that our preconceptions and assumptions were incorrect is tough and can seriously shake our faith and beliefs. Learning that there are things that will not be known in this life, like if a loved one went to heaven, is painful.

Part of resting in the Lord -finding comfort, hope, and joy in Him- is knowing that He knows and then letting that be that.

Psalm 139:6 proclaims: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Meanwhile, Psalm 147:5 echoes: “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

Let that be enough. The same God who knows you, loves you, is perfect, and is above all – He knows all about it.

So take a breath, hand the thoughts you’ve been turning over in your mind to the Lord, and set your mind on better things (Colossians 3:10.)

{A version of this post was previously published here}

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There’s this thing in my life that I continue to pray over, wait on, and hope for. And it’s kind of a big deal. Something to give God glory in and for.

Meanwhile, I often teeter between excitement and feeling a bit overwhelmed.

So, I sometimes smile in anticipation. Or, I jump up and down on the inside when I imagine the possibility of it happening.

Then, only moments later, a knot forms in the pit of my stomach wondering what if never happens? 

This thing required I take a leap of faith. And I’m learning these leaps should be the “norm” for believers. But we often hesitate about stepping into the unknown. Still, Hebrews 11:1 defines it exactly that way:

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (NIV)

Faith is not a receive-it-all-at-once deal. Because the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see, grows and strengthens while we live out our Christian lives on this earth.

God uses our circumstances today, whatever tomorrow brings, the things we pray over, wait on, and hope for, to cultivate a mature #faith in us. #FaithInGod @FridayKaren
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Here are 5 ways to cultivate an unstoppable F-A-I-T-H:

F – Find God faithful. 

We come to God in faith, believing He is Creator and Lord, and accepting His salvation by faith through Jesus Christ. This faith continues in our life as we find God faithful and learn He always fulfills His promises.

Hebrews 11, often called the Hall of Faith, showcases the men and women who not only found God faithful, but who also acted on the Lord’s promises even though they died before receiving many of the things promised.

A – Acknowledge who God is.

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”  — Oswald Chambers

We must trust Who God is…the sum total of His attributes. Yet, sometimes we only concentrate on the feel-good parts of God’s character. Such as God is love, merciful, and good.

And all those characteristics are absolutely true about God. But He is also holy, just, the one true judge, in control, on His throne, the only God, and sovereign—reigns over all things. Every one of these aspects are what make God, God.

We deny God’s full Lordship when we only celebrate one aspect of His character.

I – Imitate Jesus.

When we look at the life and ministry of Jesus, we see faith in how He obeyed and glorified the heavenly Father, performed miracles, surrendered to God’s plan, and spoke of God’s laws and commands. Also, He ministered to people’s needs in the middle of their ordinary days.

Obtaining great faith on the Christian journey is not spiritual extra credit. Instead, it’s the process of how we mature as a believer in the middle of ordinary days, in all our todays and tomorrows.

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” — Corrie ten boom

T – Trust without hesitation.

Our job as a Christ-follower is to trust God’s power, ways, and purposes. And God’s job is everything else. He does the heavy-lifting.

The thing I mentioned in the introduction? God continues to remind me that His timing really is perfect; His plans for me are always for my good and His glory.

Those things we continue to wait on and hope for all have a purpose to increase our faith, not decrease it.

Even hardships that test our faith lead to steadfastness (James 1:2-4). Enduring these trials is what God uses to pull us closer to himself and grow our trust.

H – Hold on to truth.

Nothing anchors our faith more than a God who is trustworthy and true to His Word.

Sometimes our own thoughts, the enemy, or other people trick our heart into thinking God is holding out on us.

Maybe a prayer went unanswered in how we wanted the situation to turn out. Perhaps we feel God didn’t come through for us in what we wished for or wanted to happen.

Our circumstances should never dictate our faith, but grow our faith. In everything, we hold firmly on to God’s truth.

Because God is trustworthy, we can trust Him with our todays and all our tomorrows.

Unstoppable Faith

• F – Find God faithful.
• A – Acknowledge who God is.
• I – Imitate Jesus.
• T – Trust without Hesitation.
• H – Hold on to truth.

Which part of unstoppable F-A-I-T-H stood out to you?

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