Whose faith hasn’t faltered at least a time or two? Believers aspire to truth in all things, and well they should. But what about the false fronts we erect so others will think our faith never falters? Let me say what everyone knows: we are weak and our faith falters from time to time. Now, the obvious is out of the way. Let’s get to the really important thing about faltering faith.
This might look like contending for the faith!
What do we do when we fail to measure up to the ideals of Biblical faith? If we are honest, faith is challenging. Sometimes it’s just plain hard. We face difficulties and circumstances that seem to dare us to walk by faith. But I would refer you to one Old Testament example and one in the New Testament.
Abraham serves as an example of faith. But if you study him carefully, his faith faltered forward. In other words, he took small steps and grew in his faith. And that fact is something our enemy tempts us to overlook. Faith isn’t once-and-done. It’s something we grow in. Paul said it this way in Romans 1:16-17 –
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’
From faith to faith… That should be encourageing to all of us. I’d also recommend you connect II Corinthians 3:18 to that. Paul said we are being transformed...
Faith Falters: How To Respond
It’s tempting for us to think our individual challenges are unique or somehow greater than those others face. Someone like me could think the challenges of trying to grow and support an international missions ministry exceeds the challenges you face. That isn’t true. The truth is, the giants of doubt, fear, circumstances, and self-reliance challenge every believer. And It would not be difficult to give you what my kids used to call The Sunday School answers. But I’d rather show you than tell you. Before I do, let me give you God’s answer to why we face some of life’s challenges:
Ever feel like this?
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ” I Peter 1:6-7 (emphasis mine)
Our faith is tested, refined, and purified so by it we may bring glory to our Savior and Lord. But what should we do when faith falters? The answer is illustrated by Heather Dorniden in an unbelievable scene. Watch this college athlete do the impossible and just imagine she represents your faith. What happens to her happens to you. See what she did in a track race and I think you’ll know what to do if your faith falters while you run the race set before you! (Hebrews 12:2-3)
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Did you see the guy at the end? As Stephen was martyred he saw Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand. Somehow I just have to believe when we finish our faith race the Lord Himself is like that guy at the end. He is happier for us than we are. Guess we’ll see, won’t we?