How To Keep Your Faith In Difficult Times

How do you keep your faith when times get difficult?

1. Remember God is in charge - follow and serve Him!

You wouldn’t apply for a job, get it, and then walk in like you own the place. You wouldn’t join the armed forces and say to the recruiter, “I’m only in if you station me in Hawaii. Otherwise, it’s just not going to work out.”Sometimes that’s what we do with God. “God, I’ll follow you and worship you IF…”

2. Remember God isn’t afraid of your questions - go to Him with everything!

Look at the Psalms. Look at Jesus in the garden. Look at the laments, complaints, and doubts in the biblical accounts. God gives his people a LOT of room and grace for growth. If you have questions, take them directly to Him. The worst thing you could do is NOT go to Him. He’s got really big shoulders and can take it. The Bible seems to teach that even when you’re frustrated with Him, He still wants to sit and listen to you. He loves you enough to tolerate you and love you back just like Job. Also, remember he understands our limited perspective. Just maybe be prepared in case He decides to answer you in a storm or something.

3. Realize God may provide answers one day - be willing to wait (maybe until eternity!)

This is a true maturity thing. Waiting on God, who created time and space, can be infuriatingly frustrating to those of us who are bound to them. I had a friend in college who lost his backpack with all his books and papers in it - some of which were due to be handed in soon.  And he was literally (although in a mild and joking manner) angry with God. His argument was, “God knows where my backpack is and he’s refusing to tell me.” Be willing to wait.
4. Remember God will make all things right in the end - continue to trust Him!

My favorite “answers” to the book of Job - admittedly in my limited understanding - come from Genesis and Revelation.

Genesis shares the history of a perfect world becoming a fallen world. A beautiful creation that becomes fully corrupted and devastated by sin. We live in an absolutely broken world because of the lies of the enemy and the fall of man. It’s going to have trauma and terror and suffering. We have an enemy that hates us.

Oh, but in the book of Revelation… Jesus shares a vision with John of a brand new beginning where the enemy is destroyed and everything is made right

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. 5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.” Revelation 21:1-6 (CSB)

God is so good. He’s preparing eternity for you and for me. Follow Him. Go to him with all your questions and fears - wait for him - and trust him.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.