Persevering in the Fire

Isaiah 8:9 If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."  Faith is the gasoline that runs the engine of the Christian life.  Without gas a car will not run, and as the Scripture says, without faith we cannot please God.  God wants to manifest power and blessings in the life of the follower of Christ, but He needs a measure of faith the same way a car needs gas.

I once heard a preacher say, “God has some great plans for us.  But He also has some plans to get us ready for the great plans.”  He was referring to trials and tribulations as the plans to get us ready for the plans.  Throughout the Bible we can see the people of God enduring some very dark periods in their lives right before God stepped in to use these people in a mighty way.  For instance, the children of Israel endured 400 years of affliction right before God stepped in and performed miracles, signs, and wonders to bring them out of Egypt.  Exodus 4:31 says,  “So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.”  David ran for his life for many years from King Saul.  Here was a man who had been anointed king but for decades found himself alone, isolated in the wilderness, and hunted down.  Daniel was carried captive to a foreign pagan land.  Yes, God’s people usually go through a refining process prior to the blessings of God.  They will face hardship, dry seasons, and valleys so that God can show us what we are made of and show us our true motives. 

Is it at these times where we must press forward and keep serving and praising God.  We must pass through the storm, not get stuck in it.  We must stand on the promises of God no matter what we see, no matter what the circumstances are.  The prophet Isaiah here says, “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.”  God wants to establish us, but our unbelief often rises up to oppose that establishment.  Sadly, many Christians give up or give in right before their breakthrough, just prior to the windows of Heaven being opened up.  They allow what they see to take their eyes off of God.  They allow a little rain to rain on their parade.  Believe God so that He can establish you.  Believe Him in the good times as well as the bad.  Believe Him when you have money and when you are flat broke.  Believe Him on the mountaintops and in the low valleys.  Believe Him when all hell breaks loose against you.  God’s promises are God’s promises and He will fulfill them in His timing.