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It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that He exists and that He cares enough to respond to those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)I personally do not know many, if anyone, who instantly manifested a mature, unshakable faith from the moment they became a born-again believer. Although there are those few who walk in such a gift of faith, for the majority we must endure a process of growth and endure times of our faith being tried so that it may be strengthened and developed into a place of maturity.
At times in our lives it may seem questionable, especially in the most unbearable heat of the fire, but truly God knows exactly what it takes for each of us, as unique and individual as we are, to get us to a place of walking the walk of unshakable faith. He will allow us to go through different and unique circumstances and processes in order that faith be established within us solidly.
At first thought it may not always seem like a loving Father to allow us to endure hardships, but I assure you it most certainly is. If a parent were to repeatedly always pick a small child up when he/she saw the young child take that first step ensuring the child never to fall when trying to walk, what would the outcome be? First of all, it is true the child would never get hurt from falling down while trying to learn to walk. Then again, the child would never learn to walk at all! So is it truly an act of love to keep the child from falling down, thus never learning to walk, or is it the presence of fear? A loving parent would understand that the pain in falling down will only endure for a short time in comparison to the life long reward of accomplishing a skill so very needed.
Consequences of Our Choices
Too often we assume that God is the '"creator" of every trial or hardship that we find ourselves involved in. Therefore, we may also want to blame God as a result of that manner of thinking. Reality is, our trials are formed by a variety of different sources. Sometimes they are the consequences of the choices we have made. Simple as that. If you choose to kick a boulder while barefoot, don't blame God for the broken toes you now have to deal with! I know it sounds ridiculous, but people make foolish choices all the time then want to blame God for the bad consequences they must endure as a result.
Some of our trials may very well be concocted for us by our enemy for a plan to cause harm to us in one way or another. All in all, it doesn't really matter by what means the trial was brought to us. If we put our trust in God, while He may not have created the trial, He will certainly be the director of our steps through it. And although He may permit us to walk through a trial, you can take confidence in knowing that God has a plan for you in the midst of your trial, not to crush you, rather to season and to prosper you. For the sake of clarity, there is a difference between creating and allowing something. More often than not, we are our own creators of our consequences of which God allows us to walk through them that we may learn and grow in wisdom, hopefully NOT to create the situation again.
We can be sure to know that every detail in the lives of those who love God is worked into something good. (Romans 8:28)
God's desire for His people is for us to be stable, unshakable and mature in our faith, that we may be overcomers in anything and everything that would try to slow us down or hinder us in anyway from receiving the fullness of ALL that He has for us. Which is always for our good, wellbeing and prosperity in life. As we are becoming transformed into those unshakable people, many are finding that we may have to endure fiery trials in our lives. Although trials are never pleasant they can be the necessary training ground for us. Often at the time of trial we do not realize that faith is actually being built and strengthened within us. Does not discouragement come because for the most part we view our trials as a waste of time and as a setback in our progression? If we can recognize while yet in our place of trial that patience is being produced within us and we are being made mature and complete, as to lack nothing in character, then we will be more equipped to rejoice for the reward that awaits us. (By the way, never underestimate the power of being patient. Within patience is, self-discipline, wisdom, peace, the skill to not make quick & foolish decisions. Patience is a power within itself, if you will.)
Mountain Moving People
Our Father God wants us to be mountain moving people. The mountains are those things which come to hinder us and to stand in the way of us receiving the promises of the Lord, the blessings, the healing, the rest and peace, the financial prosperity, the abundant life, if you will! Think about being on a journey and you look up and there stands a big ole mountain right in your path. You look around and there's no other way to get to where you're going other than straight ahead, but there's this mountain there that isn't going anywhere and the journey now looks pretty grim. What now? Good question and one that should be answered, by the Lord, that is. When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves they asked, "Why couldn't we do it?" "Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, 'Move" and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle." (Matthew 17:19-20) It is impossible to move mountains without the presence of faith. Mountain moving faith really is attained by the ability to see the promises/rewards to come as more of a reality than what the troubles of today are.
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see with our natural eyes. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
When we see through eyes of faith our visual perception actually changes. Our vision is no longer zoomed in and focused on the trial/problem, instead it is on the promise and reward to come. The exercising of our faith that occurs during a trial produces this vision that allows us to see beyond our present circumstances and farther than the "here and now," into the promises from our Father.
Developing Your Faith Life
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4)
Please understand, no one is saying to take joy in the trial itself, or to thank God that this unpleasant situation has come upon you, rather, be thankful to God for leading you through the trial and rejoice for the harvest that's on the other side of it.
You see, it's when we look up from our place of tribulation and choose to see farther with a faith inspired vision that mountains are moved and we can praise our way right through and out of that prison of circumstances.
It is my hope that if you do not already have it, that you will soon set your eyes upon the vision/plan that the Lord has for you in your life. There may be many along life's journey for you because it's not unheard of for you to accomplish one and then He reveals another. He transitions us from one place to another, higher and higher, ever-growing. Stand solidly on the hopes, visions, goals, & desires that God has shown you and planted within your heart. Let them be your undying proclamation over your life. Speak them over and over, however many times it's necessary for you to do it, until you truly have them written on your heart as absolute truth. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
In conclusion, let me encourage you with this - those things that are in opposition to the word of God (whether the written word or the words that He has spoke into your heart for your life) are only temporal and are not God's truth. They may seem to be "in your face" and aggressive for a time, but they will pass away because they cannot stand in existence as you in faith speak and stand on His word.
So we're not giving up. How could we? Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. (2Corinthians 4:16-18)
Remember, God never fails us or falls short and He IS for us!! (read Romans 8:31)
Abundant Blessings!
Taffie Beisecker
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