I was reminded again this week faith isn’t faith until it’s tried and proven. Since faith is the evidence of things not seen, then you have to trust God. (Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”)
Trust God with what!? Trust God is going to do what we ask? Trust God is going to rescue us from everything? Trust God is going to give us everything we want? Nope! Trust that God is going to do exactly what he says he going to do. (Numbers 23:19 (KJV) God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?) Well how do you know what God is saying? A lot of us hear God’s voice, but sometimes it’s hard to discern if it’s God talking or us talking to ourselves. I still have a time figuring that out. I have learned for me God’s voice is quiet but loud, it resonates in my spirit and he will never tell you to do anything contradictory to His word. So I go to His word and see what he says about my situation in the scriptures or His word. ( Proverbs 30:5 (KJV) Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.)
This is why it is imperative we know and understand the scriptures. God is not faithful to man, God is faithful to His word. Whatever he said he’s going to do, he will do. (Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV) Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;)
If we aren’t seeing the fruits of God’s promises, it’s probably one of two things:
1.) It’s not our time or season yet.
2.) We are not in the right position.
Instead of asking for God to come and rescue us from various things, we need to instead learn to ask God to lead us and have His way. We need to learn to ask God to give us strength during our weak times, be able to hear His voice to know what he wants us to do during this difficult season. We often try to rush out of a difficult season when God allowed it for a reason because he wanted us to get something out of it. (1 Peter 5:10 (KJV) But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.)
We need to ask God to teach us how to suffer. No one likes pain or suffering, but it’s necessary in our faith as Believers. I know that sounds horrible, but it’s the truth. How can our faith truly be tried if we don’t know how to suffer? At some point life is going to deal us some a hand we have no control over. There are things that are going to affect us when we didn’t have a hand in causing it, but God! God teaches us how to suffer as he wrapped himself in human flesh and walked the earth in the office of Jesus strictly to suffer for our sins! He suffered for sins he didn’t even commit! I’m sure he didn’t want to have to endure the suffering, but he knew he had to go through it so we would be redeemed. It was necessary. (Luke 22:42 (KJV) saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.)
Our salvation is built on suffering. So as we go through the highs and lows of life stop always asking God to rescue you. Stop asking God to take it away. Instead ask God what is it you want to learn and understand through this suffering. Ask God to teach you how to suffer.