When I first began this journey, I thought the hardest part would be taking that first leap of faith…overcoming the fear of leaving my comfortable life…doing something out of the ordinary. I thought that once I mustered up the courage to take that first step, everything else would be smooth sailing. But, I soon realized that the hardest part would be the season that came next…
Stepping out in faith puts the ball in God’s court.
In essence, when we walk in faith, we are giving God full control over our situation. And this is what gives us peace…the fact that our burden has been lifted, the fact that we are no longer responsible for our fate. But, at the same time, this causes us to feel anxious...realizing just how little control we have over our situation. So, all we can do is rely on God.
The hardest part of walking by faith is waiting on God.
The hardest part is remaining still, and trusting that God is working in a situation that seems stagnant. Because once we step out the boat, it feels like we’re treading water, waiting for God to show up. And all we see is the wind and waves. All we see is that the odds are stacked against us. What we’re believing for seems impossible. And each morning, we’re faced with this realization.
We’re faced with an internal battle.
It’s a battle between flesh and spirit. A battle between the known and the unknown. A battle between the facts, and the impossible. There are days when we’re full of faith, believing that God will work it out. And then, there are days when we aren’t so sure…those days when we question everything, we believe in.
For me, those days were the hardest part of walking in faith. It was the times that I spent wondering if I made the right decision, and the times I questioned whether I heard the voice of God at all. I can remember wondering if I would ever see the things that I was believing for. I questioned if God would come through for me. But if there’s anything I’ve learned about God, it’s that we don’t have to question His faithfulness.
We serve a God that will never let us down.
He keeps His word. So, the question isn’t whether He will come through for us. The real question is, can we wait on Him? Can we be still, while He works in our situation? Because He’s never doing nothing. He’s always doing something on our behalf. He’s working behind the scenes. He’s using the details of our frustration to prepare us for what we’re believing for. But we have to trust Him. We have to remind ourselves that He is in control. No matter the circumstance. No matter what the situation looks like.
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights. He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow. You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great. You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping. (Psalms 18:30-36 NLT)
If we want to see the blessings of God, we must persevere through the internal battles that we face.
We must be able to keep going in the face of our own doubts. Because honestly, we have already been given the victory through Christ. Everything that God has promised us is already ours. This means that no one can stand in the way of what God has for us.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31 NLT)
So, the only one powerful enough to keep us from blessing is ourselves. It’s the doubt that we have. It’s that lack of faith that we have. If we want to see the blessings of God, we have to learn to persevere through that.
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT)
How do we persevere?
We persevere by drawing our strength from the Lord. We persevere by remembering that He is in control, even when we are not. His word says that He watches over us. His word says that He makes sure that His plans come to pass in our lives.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. (Psalms 121:5-8 NLT)
And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.” (Jeremiah 1:12 NLT
Does this mean that everything will go perfectly? Does this mean that we won’t go through trials? No. But it does mean that we can be confident in the fact that our trials won’t get in the way of what He has for us. In fact, He will use them for our benefit…to advance His purpose in our lives.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
The key to perseverance is remembering where our help comes from.
We must remind ourselves, daily, that we can do nothing alone. We must remind ourselves that He is the only reason we got this far. If we are going to see the things He’s promise us, it will be through His strength, and not our own.
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! (Psalms 121:1-2 NLT)
If you are in a season of waiting, if you are in a place where you’re being tossed between the waves of fear and doubt, you must remind yourself where your help comes from. You must remind yourself that your Savior is always with you. He is right beside you, and He will never leave you. If He brought you this far…be confident that He will also bring you to the place that you are believing for.
Do you remember the story of the Israelites, as they were trapped between the Egyptians and the Red Sea? They were afraid, because all they could see was the facts. All they could see was that they had no where to run to. But they forgot where their help came from. They forgot that their God was the one that led them to freedom in the first place. He never left their side. And what they didn’t understand is that God always finishes what He starts.
The God that began a good work in you, intends to finish it.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NLT)
The work that He began in your heart, He intends to finish it. The work He began in your family, He intends to finish it. The work He began in your finances, He intends to finish it. If He has given you the faith to step out and trust Him, He will follow through. You don’t have to question His faithfulness. You don’t have to wonder if you’re waiting in vain, because He always finishes what He starts.
The question is, will you wait on Him?
Will you trust Him, even when it seems like nothing is happening? Will you continue to be obedient, even in the face of adversity? Will you walk in faith, even when the facts tell you not to? If you can do that…If you can persevere through your internal battles, if you can wait on Him…no matter what you see, no matter how long it takes…you will have the victory. By faith, you will see everything He has for you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing me to this place. Thank you for rescuing me, and thank you for never leaving my side. Today, I have been reminded that you always finish what you start. I have been reminded of your faithfulness, and I am making the decision to trust in you. I am making the decision to put my hope and faith in you…no matter the cost…no matter what I see…no matter how long it takes. I will wait on you Father. And I know that as I wait, you will renew my strength. I know that you will enable me to do everything you have called me to do. You are where my help comes from. I trust in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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