Faith Made Stronger

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

What is faith?

Merriam-Webster dictionary lists faith as a noun. It is defined as an allegiance to duty or a person, fidelity to one’s promises, belief and trust in and loyalty to God, a firm belief in something for which there is no proof, and complete trust.

While faith is something we don’t see, I believe it is something we surely experience. Everyday each one of us put our faith and trust in something or someone. There is an ebb and flow as we walk each day in faith. I believe our faith is continuously tested. I think our faith is made stronger, just like our bodies when we exercise, as the trials and tensions come our way.

I love a good strength workout…especially when it is over!

I wrestle with my long “to-do” list and can talk myself out of an exercising session. Some days I am just tired and distracted. But I know from experience that skipping workouts bring no benefit. So I lace up my running shoes and crank up some fun music. As I start moving, my heart rate increases and my muscles warm up. I begin to add repetitions and weight which leads to burn and fatigue. Now some days I can push hard, and other days not so much as my energy is lacking. Each workout is different. On those hard workout days, my body feels like a noodle and probably will experience some muscle soreness. On those easier workout days, my body is simply happy I persevered.

These are some of the things that run through my mind during workouts: I am alive! God created this good body. Working out is a “get to”!! Taking care of the temple. This is why I continue to show up even when I don’t feel like it.

The heat and tension we feel in our muscles is a MUST for them to change, to get stronger. This work creates microtears in the muscle fiber and with proper fuel (water, good nutrition, rest, and proper sleep, etc.), the muscle structure changes. It becomes stronger, more powerful, more capable of enduring our activities of daily living (ADL’s).

Now this is a simple explanation of what happens to our muscles when load is placed upon them, but the same thing happens with our faith.

Our faith is constantly being stressed or challenged. When has your faith been tested? Maybe it is being challenged right now. And like a strength workout, sometimes it is not fun. It hurts and there is some pain. These tests are just like our workouts. We resist…we choose to do something else…we struggle through them. But, like our workouts that help our body stay strong and healthy, life challenges bring the opportunity for joy; our endurance grows, allowing our faith to be made perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James, the brother of Jesus, writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”   James 1:2-4

Recently, I took the opportunity to reminisce over old journals. As I was flipping through the pages reading the prayers and all the things that were on my heart at the time, God kindly revealed His faithfulness. I saw it so clearly in and over my life.

I was asking for protection over my family and marriage, a deeper relationship with my husband, discernment, clarity in hearing from God, a heart to love others well, a deeper faith, to see Jesus in everything, and, on some journal entry days, just the strength to make it through the day. These might appear to be general, even simple, prayers, but God has been working. He is continually doing a new thing.

John 15 reminds us that when we abide in Him, He produces the fruit. He is the vine and we are the branches. He will prune all that is fruitless, so that we may produce even more fruit as we remain in Him. This fruit reflects God and all His glory!

Like our weekly workouts, we reap the benefits when we show up. The same is true in walking out our faith with Jesus. As we experience trials and challenges in our life, we gain Godly wisdom, we grow in spiritual maturity, we are made more Christ-like.

This is HARD work. But it’s what strengthens our faith in the One who is always faithful. May I encourage and cheer you on to run your race. Continue your faith walk.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for being faithful. Thank you for your continually work in me. There are times it is painful, and I don’t understand why things happen as they do, but I trust you. I thank you for your work on the cross, your great love for me, and the promise of eternity with you. Please give me strength to persevere, to run my race that you have set before me. May you receive all the glory and honor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.