I.1. One of the greatest things God has given us can’t be bought with money: We use this gift from Him continually, and the more we exercise it, the better we do with it. What is this great, precious, and powerful fruit of the Spirit? It is faith—and God provides it to every person who is rightly related to Him through Jesus Christ. There is so much to learn about trusting our heavenly Father. We are not born knowing how to rely upon Him or understanding the importance of depending on His wisdom and strength. Therefore, we must discover how to do so as we mature spiritually
I.2. Three Types of Faith: In order to comprehend what it means to truly trust the Lord, one of the first things we must do is clarify the meaning of intellectual faith, godly faith, and saving faith. We often hear these terms used interchangeably, but they are not the same. It is crucial for us to understand the distinctions that separate them.
Intellectual faith: Also commonly referred to as “natural faith,” this is a type of faith that both Christians and unbelievers can have. It is defined as believing something to be true without proof or commitment. For example, a person can intellectually believe Jesus was a real person who walked the earth, helped others, and performed miracles but not accept the fact that He was the God-man.
Godly faith: This is the confident conviction that whatever the Lord has promised to do, He will absolutely fulfill. He has never failed to keep His word, and that will never change.
Saving faith: This is defined as trusting in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as the One who provides us with the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of everlasting life. This type of faith involves having a personal relationship with the Lord, renouncing sin, and turning our lives over to Him.
I.3. The Grades of Faith: Because of the opposition and persecution they would face, it was important for the disciples to understand what true saving faith was so they could serve God and allow Christ to work through them. That’s why Jesus spent a great deal of time teaching them what it meant to believe and trust in Him. The same is true for us. Thankfully, we can study the different grades of faith Jesus identified to better understand where we are in our relationships with Him.
I.4. Believers can have:
No faith. In Mark 4:35-41, we read about a storm that arose one evening as the disciples traveled on the sea. Jesus was sleeping in the stern of the ship, but the tempest was so terrible that the disciples woke Jesus and exclaimed, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (v. 38). The question revealed their lack of trust in God. Accordingly, Christ responded, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40). Like them, when we question whether or not God cares about us at all, we demonstrate our lack of faith.
Little faith. We see this weak trust in God demonstrated in Matthew 16:5-10. The Pharisees and Sadducees had asked Jesus for signs. This is why He told the disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (v. 6). The disciples thought He told them this because they had forgotten to bring food. Christ responded, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?”(v. 8). Although the disciples had seen Jesus feed 5,000 people and then 4,000 more (vv. 9-10), they were still concerned about their physical provision. In other words, we have little faith when we are focused only on signs and earthly worries instead of learning the greater spiritual principles God wants to teach us.
Great faith. When Jesus met the centurion, it became the perfect opportunity to teach the disciples about great faith (Matt. 8:5-8). The centurion asked Christ to heal his paralyzed servant, and he trusted Jesus’ word that it would be done. The centurion didn’t need signs or evidence of Christ’s power. This is the reason why Jesus said, “I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel” (v. 10). Like him, when we take Christ at His word and trust Him so completely that we don’t require proof that He will fulfill His promises to us, we exhibit great faith. Failing faith. Unfortunately, all of us falter at one point or another. Jesus prophesied that even Simon Peter would experience a faith failure. In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus said, “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” In other words, there are forces challenging our faith, and sometimes we will fail to trust God. But even when we do, we are welcome to return to the Lord and seek His forgiveness. Our heavenly Father will even allow us to teach others about His unfailing faithfulness.
I.5. The Reason for Faith: The primary reason the Father wants us to have great faith is because we respond to Him in proportion to how much we trust Him. If we have strong faith, He can entrust us with assignments that will have a greater impact for His kingdom.
I.6. Saving faith must come first: However, we cannot even begin the journeys God has in mind for us if we do not have saving faith. There is a terrible gap between intellectual belief and true trust in God, and that chasm can only be bridged by an intimate relationship with Jesus. When you receive Him as your personal Savior, from that moment, the Holy Spirit will direct and empower you. Also, an individual does not exhibit saving faith if he or she refuses to repent. If a person truly believes that Jesus is his or her Savior, he or she will want to turn away from anything that is inconsistent with who Christ is and how a believer should live. Repentance and faith go hand in hand, and both acknowledge God is sovereign over all things and that He has the right to govern our conduct.
Response on “Saving Our Faith” Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior and gained a saving faith, or is your trust in Him merely intellectual? Have you truly repented of your sins and turned away from the actions and attitudes that do not fit who you are as a child of God? If not, you can trust Jesus as your Savior right now. Just tell Him, “Lord Jesus, I believe You’re the Son of God, the One who died on the cross to pay my sin debt in full. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and empowering me to live a life that honors You.” The moment you do, you can be certain you’re saved. You will enter into a relationship with God—the One who always does exactly as He promises.
Do you recall a faith failure in your life? Who or what was standing in the way of your having a perfect faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? What did you do to restore that faith?
How can you help someone else who is suffering in their faith and lead them to a place of renewed faith?
II. Advancing in Our Faith
II.1. Walking with the Lord Jesus is the most exciting life a person can live: Your eternal home in heaven is assured; the opportunities ahead are full of hope; and you have the very best Companion on the path of life anyone could desire the living God. Although being saved is a one-time experience, you have entered into a relationship with the Lord that is continuous. But what can you expect on this daily walk with Him? First, you are assured that you will get to know God in an intimate and personal way. Second, you will discover His will and purpose for your life. Third, you will learn to listen to and obey Him. Fourth, you will experience His unfailing presence, power, and wisdom in your life. And fifth, you will learn to walk by faith. God wants you to grow: Many people accept Christ as their Savior and do not realize this is only the beginning of their relationships with Him. Some believe they can stay where they feel safe and comfortable, and merely talk about trusting God. However, the Father desires more than that for each of us. His plan is that we mature in our knowledge and understanding of His ways—living vibrant lives in obedience to Him. He wants us to grow in our faith, which is the confident conviction that He will do all He has promised. Are you growing in your faith? Is your trust in the Lord increasing? Do you believe that God hears and answers your prayers? If you have been struggling with doubt and unbelief, it is possible that you have begun to stagnate in your faith. The Father wants to bless you and work through you in a powerful way, but you must trust Him to do so. You see, many believers are not being used by the Lord because they’re unwilling to rely upon Him. But if a person is to advance in his or her faith, dependence upon God is absolutely critical. You have the presence, power, and wisdom of almighty God to help you through anything you must face in life. You can have complete confidence that He will do as He has promised. And you can trust Him to increase your faith through the following avenues.
II.2. Ten ways our faith advances:
Our faith grows through facing and overcoming adversity and trials. It is when we encounter troubles, temptations, and obstacles that we must decide whether we truly trust God or not. He will challenge us to obey Him, even though our circumstances appear absolutely impossible. Will we give up and quit when the path ahead becomes trying and difficult? Or will we cling to the Father and praise Him for answering our prayers, despite how things look?
Our faith grows through understanding God’s nature. The Lord is fully trustworthy. He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, loving, and merciful. It is in discovering His unfailing character that we realize we can completely rely upon Him. Therefore, we should make every effort to spend time with Him and get to know Him more intimately.
Our faith grows through meditating on the Word of God. Of course, one way we can know the Lord better is through His Word. In fact, we cannot grow in our relationships with Him if we ignore Scripture? If you have been struggling. It is the fuel of our faith and how He directs our paths. If we desire to know the Father how He thinks and acts, as well as His will for our lives that we must meditate on the Bible daily. This means we read it, think about what it means, and ask the Lord how He wants us to apply it.
Our faith grows through applying the principles of God’s Word. Once the Father reveals His direction for us, we must step out in complete confidence of His wisdom and provision. The Lord wants us to succeed, so He enables us to do so. As we watch Him working in our lives and honoring our obedience, our faith in Him grows.
Our faith grows through observing God’s ways. By comprehending how the Lord works in others’ lives, we can understand His activity in our own circumstances. The Father often operates in unusual ways that we do not expect. However, by learning how He demonstrates His power through believers and teaches us during times of adversity, we can remain confident regardless of what happens.
Our faith grows through observing God’s work in the lives of others. The Lord will also instruct us through the lives of the biblical saints and believers we know and respect. They are truly examples of His principles in action. He works through them to strengthen our faith and plant His truth in our hearts and minds.
Our faith grows through obeying God and leaving the consequences to Him. We live out the words of Hebrews 11:6, “He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” This is the perfect expression of faith. We do as the Lord says, regardless of what it costs or requires of us—all the while trusting that He will help us. We believe wholeheartedly that He will not only honor our obedience, but will also bless us abundantly.
Our faith grows when God answers our prayers. It is such a wonderful experience when the Father responds to our requests. We see the full power and provision of heaven employed in helping us. This is why we should always pray with expectation confidence, boldness, assurance, diligence, and persistence.
Our faith grows through worshipping God. The songs we sing in praise to the Father offer us an opportunity to profess our absolute trust in Him. We remember all the ways He has been faithful to us, and that never fails to bolster our confidence in the Lord.
Our faith grows when we confess our faith failures to God. The Father will not reject us because we’ve failed. He wants to forgive us, give us another opportunity, and bring us back into unhindered relationship with Himself. When we fully experience His unconditional love, it will deepen our trust in Him and help us continue growing in our Christian walks.
Response on “Advancing in Our Faith” God wants you to grow and reach your full potential because this brings Him glory. He wants you to believe in Him—to rely on Him so completely that others recognize His presence in your life and realize their need for Jesus. Here is the challenge for you. Take a moment to evaluate your life. Is there anything that the Spirit of God brings to your attention, that you know doesn’t fit who you are as His child? If so, then it is hindering your walk of faith with the Father. Friend, lay it down. Deal with the issues that cause your confidence in the Lord to waiver, and embrace the ways He grows your faith. The Lord has awesome plans for your future. Don’t miss out on experiencing life at its very best.
What active steps are you currently taking to further your relationship with God?
Recall a time when God answered a prayer of yours. How did that answer grow your faith in Him?
III. The Stages of Our Faith
III.1. Throughout Scripture, it has been made evident that God honors faith: Our wholehearted belief in the Lord is important because, when we truly place our trust in Him, the Savior is glorified. Our Father wants us to always have confidence that He will fulfill His promises to us. He also wants us to completely rely upon Him, regardless of the situation or circumstance. This is because every aspect of our lives is affected by the strength and vitality of our faith.
III.2. Why We Struggle With Our Faith: Unfortunately, we often face many obstacles to our faith. As we encounter situations that cause us to question God’s involvement in our lives, our trust in Him can waver. What are some of the hindrances we experience? They include:
Human Reason. At times, the Lord may command us to do something that appears absolutely unreasonable. His instruction defies logic from our point of view. However, we will miss His best blessings if we fail to do what He asks. Remember, God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable.
Living by Sight. It is said that seeing is believing; however, the Lord usually doesn’t give us visual evidence of His activity. We must trust Him even when we don’t see Him working.
Surrendering to Our Feelings. There are times when we reach the limit of our emotions. Feelings of insecurity or inadequacy paralyze us and stop us from proceeding. But God wants us to push through those emotions and trust Him.
Negative Counsel From Others. It is normal for us to seek advice from our loved ones, but they may not recognize what the Lord is accomplishing in and through us. Therefore, God’s instructions must always trump their opinions. We must obey Him regardless of what others may say.
Feelings of Guilt. Our regret of past sins may also impede us from fully trusting the Lord. Believing ourselves unworthy of His love, we doubt His favor and His promise to work supernaturally in our lives. But we must always remember the Father forgives us on the basis of Christ’s shed blood on the cross, not by our own merit.
Neglecting the Word of God. Daily meditation upon Scripture is absolutely vital to our faith. The Word is the fuel of our trust in the Father because it reminds us of how He’s helped others in the past. If we neglect to read the Word, our confidence in the Lord will surely falter.
Continuing in Sin. When we insist on holding on to sinful habits and behaviors, we lose the ability to believe God for all He wants to do in our lives. This is because sin short-circuits our faith and distracts us from our relationship with the Father. n Satan’s Tactics. The enemy will do whatever he can to thwart our devotion to the Lord—always suggesting God will not do as He has promised. Never believe the devil’s lies.
III.3. The Stages of Our Faith: We cannot allow unbelief to drive us away from the Lord. Instead, we must focus on His unfailing character, taking Hebrews 11:6 to heart: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” When we do so, we can move through the stages of faith, which are:
Little or restless faith. The person with little faith says, “I think the Lord can do as He says, but I’m not certain He will.” He or she struggles to believe in God’s promises. The disciples displayed this weak confidence in the Lord in Matthew 8:23-27. Jesus slept while a great storm arose on the Sea of Galilee. Overcome with fear because of the thrashing winds and the waves pouring over the side of the boat, the disciples woke Him saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” (v. 25). He responded, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” (v. 26). Their focus was on what they were seeing and feeling instead of the fact that the Son of God was with them. The same can happen to us. If we center our attention on our difficulties rather than the Lord, it doesn’t take much to sink us. The only way for us to have peace in life is to focus on the Father.
Great or maturing faith. The person with great faith trusts the Word of God and relies on the unfailing character of the Lord. He or she says, “Not only do I know the Father can help me, I am sure He will.” David showed this deep reliance upon the Lord when he fought Goliath (1 Sam. 17). So did the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed (Matt. 9:20-22). They had great faith and could trust God’s timing and provision, regardless of how their circumstances appeared. This was also the testimony of the centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant (Matt. 8:5-10). He recognized the authority Jesus had as the Son of God and said, “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed” (v. 8). Jesus replied, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel” (v. 10).
Perfect or resting faith. People with perfect faith say, “God has promised me, so I trust what He has said is already accomplished.” They no longer ask the Lord for the desires of their hearts. Instead, they thank Him that His perfect provision is already fulfilled whether they presently see it or not. One of the best examples of perfect faith in Scripture is Abraham (Gen. 22:1-5). When he and his wife Sarah were well beyond child-bearing age, God miraculously provided them with their son Isaac. But then the Lord asked something very difficult—“Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering” (v. 2). Abraham willingly complied, assured that the Lord would keep His promise to provide many descendants through Isaac. He did not know how God would do so, but Abraham absolutely trusted He would—and the Lord spared Isaac.
Response on “The Stages of Our Faith” How strong is your faith? Perhaps you trust that God can help you, but do you truly believe that He will? Do you need to see evidence of His activity in your situation in order to rely upon Him? Or do you trust that His promises to you are already fulfilled regardless of what you see and feel? Perfect faith is the Father’s goal for each of His children, but it does not occur overnight. You must read God’s Word, make sure your heart is clean, and surrender your life to Him completely—trusting that He has the most wonderful plan for your life. Are you willing? Remember, God will honor your faith and give your life at its very best. Therefore, thank the Lord in every circumstance and praise Him that His promises are already accomplished. This is the surest way to have your faith perfected.
What stage of faith are you currently experiencing? What might you do to strengthen your faith?
Does your behavior positively reflect the Lord and His goodness? Do you exhibit faith in a way that shows God’s sovereignty in your life?
IV. Wavering our Faith
IV.1. Faith is key to everything in the life of a believer. Whatever we become and achieve in life is determined by our ability to trust God. Every person, even a non-believer, demonstrates a degree of faith. It is only when we believe in Jesus Christ and are confident that God will do as He promised that our lives can be transformed. This wholehearted reliance upon the Lord becomes especially important as we walk through difficulties and trials. When we are certain of the Father’s presence, power, and provision, we can face any situation with hope and assurance. As Paul wrote in Philippians 4:7, “The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
IV.2. Why Our Faith Wavers: Sadly, there are many people who struggle with faith throughout their lives. They wonder why God doesn’t do more in and through them. Yet when we examine what governs them and how they relate to the Lord, we see they are unstable in their faith. They do not fully trust God in some area and are sometimes inconsistent in pursuing a relationship with Him. For us to avoid exhibiting a similar wavering faith, we must consider the factors that can make us stumble. n When trusting God is in conflict with human reason, we will be tempted to doubt. At times, the Father may instruct us to do something that seems illogical. However, we must always remember that our omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God is not limited by the natural laws that guide our reason.
We will waver in our faith when we allow our feelings to rule us. We may think ourselves unworthy of God’s favor and blessings. We may also fear the consequences of doing as He says. However, the Father expects us to obey Him and trust His love regardless of our emotions.
When we fail to see God at work in our circumstances, we may stagger in our faith. The Lord does not always demonstrate how He is working in our situations, but we must trust Him even when we don’t see His activity.
Negative counsel from others can often cause us to doubt. No one knows what is best for you as the Father does, and no one knows God’s will for your life better than you do. So be careful when listening to others’ advice.
When we focus on the circumstances rather than God, our faith may waver. Concentrating on our difficulties is a sure way to make them more daunting than they actually are. Instead, we must place our attention on the One who is always infinitely bigger and more powerful than our problems.
As long as we are ignorant of God’s ways, our faith will continue to stagger. The Lord always operates on the basis of principles. Therefore, the more we understand how He works, the better we will relate to Him.
Our feelings of guilt about past sins may also impede us from fully trusting the Lord. Sin short circuits our faith destroying our relationship with the Father. We must accept His promise to forgive us completely and realize our pardon is not based on our worthiness, but Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Our faith will waver when we listen to the enemy’s lies. The devil will try to separate us from God, steal our peace, and trap us in sin. Don’t listen to him—he only leads people to destruction.
IV.3. The Consequences of Wavering Faith: Unfortunately, when we nurse our unbelief, we leave ourselves open to terrible consequences. We are in danger of:
Being double-minded. n Becoming unstable in our ways. n Missing the blessings of God.
Having our faith destroyed.
Misleading others about God’s character.
Losing our influence. n Weakening our testimonies.
Making wrong decisions.
Forfeiting our peace.
Committing costly mistakes.
Being discouraged in prayer.
IV.4. Overcoming Wavering Faith: So how do we overcome our unbelief and steady our faith? How do we conquer our doubts when they arise?
First, we must stop and ask ourselves the following questions: 1. Where are these doubts coming from? 2. Has God been faithful to me in the past? 3. Didn’t the Lord promise to meet my needs? 4. Don’t I have the help of the Holy Spirit? 5. Isn’t the Father with me at all times? 6. Is anything too hard for God? 7. Is my focus on the Lord as it should be? 8. Could my unbelief in this situation cost me a lifetime of regret? n Second, we must meditate upon the Word of God. The Lord speaks to us in many ways, but one of the primary avenues is through His Word. Therefore, we should study Scripture each day, deliberately considering how He may be instructing us through each passage and applying His principles to our lives. The Father knows you are seeking His direction and assurance, so trust Him to speak to your heart, answer your questions, clarify your path, and comfort your soul.
Third, we must recall times when God faithfully answered our prayers. This is one of the reasons it is always a good idea to write what the Father is showing you in the margin of your Bible—it becomes a biography of how He has worked in your life. Then you can recall His absolute faithfulness and trust Him to lead you when troubles arise.
Fourth, courageously choose to obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. There will certainly be times when it takes a great deal of faith to obey God. But when you are walking in an intimate relationship with Him, He will give you the confidence to take the leap. You will never regret stepping out in faith with Him.
Response on “Wavering our Faith” When you live without faith in God, you are limited by your own strength and must endure difficulties without His awesome ability to help you. It is a terrible way to live and is certainly not what the Father wants for you. The Lord desires to show you His grace, love, and generosity, but your unbelief is hindering you from experiencing it. Don’t continue in your wavering faith. Trust God with every detail of your life and make your relationship with Him your first priority. Be confident in His presence, power, and provision, and His peace will fill your heart.
What event/situation/person has caused your faith to waver? If you overcame that doubt, how did you do it? If you are still struggling, whose godly, biblical wisdom can you seek?
Do you believe what you read in 1 John 1:9? What benefits can you envision to reading and memorizing this Scripture?
V. Why Do We Waver in Our Faith?
V.1. Faith is essential because it’s required for our salvation: However, even after accepting Christ, believers are to continue living by faith. Some of us may have great faith while others have only a little. But we can also be characterized by wavering faith—up one day, down the next. Genuine faith is the confident conviction that God will do what He promised. However, if we take our eyes off Him and start looking at our circumstances, our confidence in Him could start to wobble. We will all experience situations like this because the Lord tests our faith in order to make it stronger.
V.2. The short book of James contains practical advice for those whose faith fluctuates because of difficult circumstances (James 1:1-8). When we start doubting, we’re driven and tossed about like the surf of the sea. James says a doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways and should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. To be double-minded is to go back and forth in our thinking. We may begin with strong confidence in God, but as time goes by and the difficult situation continues, we may start to doubt that He will do what He’s promised. Doubting and questioning are not necessarily the same thing. Questioning is seeking to gain further information or understand whether we’re accurately hearing from the Lord. Doubting, on the other hand, involves believing what we think, see, or feel rather than what we know God has said. It’s natural for us to question or doubt when we’re suddenly overwhelmed by a distressing event. The Lord understands our struggle and wants us to come to Him with our pain and confusion. We may have to take time to pray, listen, and evaluate before we know what He’s saying. Sometimes God has to sift our thinking by reminding us of His truth or His faithfulness to us in a similar situation.
V.3. Why do we doubt? Even if we’ve trusted the Lord for many years, certain conditions may cause our faith to waver.
A situation goes against our human reasoning. A good example of this is Peter’s experience of walking on the water. He started out confident, but as soon as he looked away from Jesus and saw the waves, he started thinking humanly—people can’t walk on water—and his faith faltered. We are just like Peter when we know what God has said but try to add our reasoning to His commands. For instance, if we give part of our income to the Lord, it seems like we won’t have enough. But Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38). Anytime we rely on our own logic, we’ll miss God’s best for our lives.
We allow feelings to overcome our faith. If the Lord calls us to do something that seems impossible or unreasonable, we can be certain that He will equip us for it. However, if we let feelings of fear, inadequacy, or unworthiness cause us to doubt His promise, we could miss the opportunity through disobedience. Because the Holy Spirit lives within us, we can live a supernatural life in His power if we’ll just obey Him. We’re called to live by faith, not fear.
We don’t see God in certain circumstances. The Lord has promised to take care of us, but it may not be in the way we want. We may think that the Lord couldn’t possibly be in the midst of a difficult or painful situation, but He is. According to Romans 8:28, He promises to work all things for our good if we love Him and are called according to His purpose. n We listen to negative counsel. When we’re trying to discern the will of God, we must be careful whom we ask for guidance. Some friends might offer to help us seek the Lord’s direction through prayer, but others may simply tell us what we want to hear or what they’d do in that situation.
We focus on the circumstances. Little problems can become huge when they dominate our thoughts. That’s why we must always consider every situation in the light of our great God. He can handle anything and everything. Worry and fretting demonstrate that we do not trust the Lord.
We may be ignorant of God’s ways. When Lazarus fell ill, Mary and Martha called for Jesus because they believed He could heal their brother. They thought they knew how God should work in the situation, but Jesus had something greater in mind. He delayed coming in order to raise Lazarus from the dead. Spiritually speaking, we must ignore our watches and calendars because God’s timing is not ours. He alone knows what to do, and when to do it. His delays do not mean He’s forgotten us.
We might feel guilt over past sins. Sometimes we doubt that God could possibly forgive us for something we did in the past. Even after we’ve confessed it, we still carry a heavy load of guilt. The problem is one of unbelief because 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” As believers, there’s nothing we have to do to earn His forgiveness since Christ paid for all our sins on the cross. Although we may still have to deal with the consequences, our guilt has been removed. n We could be listening to the devil. He’s always trying to deceive us and put doubts in our minds so we won’t trust the Lord (John 8:44).
V.4. How do we deal with doubts? When we face situations that cause our faith to falter, we should ask ourselves the following questions:
Where do these doubts come from? n Has God ever failed me in the past? n Didn’t the Lord promise to meet all my needs (Phil. 4:19)?
Did He give me the Holy Spirit to enable me to believe Him and do whatever He requires of me (John 16:13)?
Did He not promise to be with me at all times (Heb. 13:5)?
Is anything too difficult for God? n Will my unbelief cost me a lifetime of regret?
Response on “Why Do We Waver in Our Faith?”
How would you describe your current faith? Is it strong, weak, or wavering? Is anything presently causing you to doubt God? If so, what can you do to strengthen your confidence in Him?
What kinds of situations typically tempt you to doubt the Lord? What Scripture passages address these issues?
Have you ever faced a fork in the road that determined your future? If so, did you believe God or allow your reasoning or feelings to govern your choice? What happened as a result of your obedience or disobedience?
VI. Suffering a Faith Failure
VI.1. Often, God’s answer to our prayers about challenging circumstances is “Trust Me.” This is because the first step in overcoming our difficulties is to focus on the Father and have faith in His direction. We express our absolute confidence that even though the solution may be far beyond us, He knows what to do. And we can be assured that the Lord will lead us in the best way possible because He loves us unconditionally. When we have faith in God, it glorifies Him. Unfortunately, when we fail to trust the Father, it dishonors Him. He shows us how to proceed—how to have victory in our circumstances—but we refuse to obey Him. It may be because we believe we know better than the Lord does about our situations. Or maybe we are simply fearful of what may happen if we submit to His commands. Either way, we allow our unbelief to rule us and miss His best for our lives.
VI.2. A Historic Faith Failure: One of the most devastating examples of unbelief occurred when the people of Israel gathered at the edge of Canaan—the Promised Land (Numbers 3–14). Although God had faithfully delivered them from Egypt and led them successfully through the wilderness, they were still unwilling to trust Him. It began when God commanded the Israelites to send 12 spies into Canaan to inspect the fruit of the region. Sadly, only two returned with positive reports of the land, which flowed with milk and honey. The other 10 spies were more focused on their inability to overthrow the inhabitants than they were on God’s great provision for them. They said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us” (Num. 13:31). The people of Israel experienced a faith failure. Even though God had promised to give them the land, they refused to believe Him. They considered the obstacles simply too immense to overcome. Regrettably, this faith failure resulted in 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and an entire generation of Israelites missed the blessings of the Promised Land.
VI.3. The Causes of Failing Faith: Likewise, we experience faith failures when we refuse to trust God in our own challenges, temptations, and difficulties. What causes these breakdowns in our trust?
Fear of failure. When we consider our trials from our own ability to handle them, it is normal for us to become afraid. However, it is not up to us to solve our problems—this is God’s responsibility when we’re living in obedience to His commands. David understood this and wrote, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Ps. 27:1). We have nothing to dread because God is with us, and He is greater than anything we will ever face. We cannot allow fear to cheat us out of His blessings (2 Tim. 1:7).
Listening to false information. We must always be careful about whom we ask for advice. Others may not understand what the Lord is accomplishing in our lives or what He’s promised us. Therefore, they may counsel us in a way that works contrary to His will. This is why God’s direction must always take precedence in our lives—only He knows what is possible and how we can reach our full potential. We must obey Him regardless of what others say.
Failing to recall the power of God in past situations. The Lord is intimately involved in our lives—blessing us and working through our circumstances to reveal His goodness to us. However, it is easy to forget this when we’re focused on our problems. This is why it is always necessary for us to actively recount the ways the Father has worked in our lives. It gives us confidence He will help us again.
Failing to consider God’s perspective. The Lord desires that we learn to depend upon Him. This means He must put us in situations that are far beyond our ability to control, so we’ll turn to Him. First Thessalonians 5:24 tells us, “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” We must trust that the Father will accomplish all He’s promised.
Focusing on the obstacles rather than God. We will always be tempted to fear the challenges before us. We catalog our weaknesses and dwell on what we lack—imagining our trials to be much larger than they actually are. This shows our focus is misplaced. Instead we must pray to God, who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. When we keep our eyes on Him, we will see the difficulties in the proper perspective—as a way for Him to show us His glory.
VI.4. The Consequences of Faith Failures: When we refuse to believe that God will do as He’s promised, we often experience devastating consequences. We are in danger of: n Suffering disappointment.
Developing a distorted view of our trials.
Causing others to suffer.
Blaming others for our failings.
Missing life at its best.
Experiencing God’s correction.
Overcoming Failing Faith: So how do we keep our faith from failing?
First, we must turn to God’s Word. Reading Scripture not only gives us courage to move forward with God’s commands, but it also keeps us connected to His unfailing love and presence.
Second, we must plant the right seeds in our minds and hearts. We must examine what we tell ourselves. Do we think about how God has helped us in the past and the promises of His Word, or do we rehearse our failings? Sowing the truth of Scripture and knowledge of His unfailing character in our minds and hearts will always yield great courage, joy, and peace.
Third, we must keep our focus on God. We have no reason to fail as long as our focus is on our all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present Lord. He delights in helping those who seek His face and are obedient to Him.
Response on “Suffering a Faith Failure” Is your faith floundering? Are you facing an overwhelming challenge that seems much greater than you can handle? Have you become doubtful that there can be a good outcome to the problem you’re encountering? It may very well be that your focus is distorted and you’re in danger of failing to trust the Father. This is a critical time for you. However, if you choose to believe God’s promises to you, it will be a season that strengthens your relationship with Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 affirms, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” So do not allow your faith to fail. Instead, place your trust in God’s provision with complete confidence that He will never let you down.
Do you keep a journal of the times God has been faithful in your life? How could this journal be beneficial in times of uncertainty?
In what aspect(s) of your life are you still not fully trusting God? What can you do this week to begin to change this?
VII. Walking in Faith
VII.5. The Christian life is a walk of faith: From the moment you become a believer, you enter the school of faith because, from that point on, the Father’s goal is to teach you to trust in Him. Therefore, in order to live effectively and grow in your relationship with Him, you must have confidence that God—the Sovereign Lord of the universe—will do exactly what He says and fulfill every single promise He’s made to you. This is why Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). The Father has awesome blessings for you, but you must know that He cares for you enough to provide them. Unfortunately, believers will sometimes miss God’s best in life simply because they do not trust Him. We get caught up in our circumstances and wonder why difficulties occur. However, when we realize that ups and downs are a natural part of maturing as Christians, we will continue to grow and progress in our faith.
VII.6. The Father of Our Faith: Abraham is known by this title because of his inspiring and historic trust in God. Although he grew up in a pagan land and knew nothing about Yahweh, he obeyed when the Lord called him (Josh. 24:2-3). God said, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you” (Gen. 12:1-2). It was an incredibly difficult command—Abraham was to leave his family and everything he had ever known to go to a place he had never seen. Although Abraham’s faith was severely tried, we know that he remained devoted to God even when everything appeared contrary to the Lord’s covenant with him. And the Father blessed him beyond measure—fulfilling every promise. Yes, Abraham failed at times and had doubts like we do. He wasn’t perfect. This is the reason he is an excellent example of what it means to live a vibrant life of faith. We all experience faith failures, but if we pick ourselves up and renew our trust in the Lord, we will see God’s promises to us fulfilled as this patriarch did. Thankfully, Abraham also demonstrates what is necessary for remaining confident in the Father’s provision. These five requirements are as follows:
Requirement 1: Learn to Listen to God: The Lord is speaking to each of us individually—just as He did with Abraham. But if we do not learn to listen to Him, how will we ever have a relationship with Him? The first question we should ask is “How does the Father communicate with us?” He does so primarily through His Word and prayer. As we read the Bible daily, He shows us how to handle the issues that concern us. However, He may also communicate through other people, sermons, Christian books, songs, and circumstances. In fact, He will move heaven and earth to show us His will when we seek His face. The key is to begin each day by praying, “Father, if You have anything to say to me, please speak—I’m listening.” Though there may be times when God’s directions do not make sense to us, be assured that He would never tell us to do anything that contradicts Scripture.
Requirement 2: Learn to Obey God: As you and I grow in our relationships with the Father, we learn by trial and error how crucial it is for us to do exactly as He tells us. In fact, once we hear the Lord’s direction, our best course of action is to submit to His commands fully and immediately—no matter what it costs us—because obedience to God always brings blessings. As we mature, we also discover that when we attempt to take shortcuts or circumvent God’s plan, we get ourselves into trouble. This is because partial obedience is disobedience, which always brings terrible consequences.
Requirement 3: Learn to Depend on God: The more closely we walk with the Father, the more we understand how perfectly He leads us. This is why God will sometimes only show us where to go one step at a time—so we will rely upon Him completely. When this happens, we may become frustrated or impatient with our progress and begin to doubt. However, when we do so, we show that we don’t truly trust and depend on God. As a result, we begin to feel we must handle things on our own and pull away from Him. This is always a mistake. Instead, we must constantly remain in complete dependence upon the Father, which is the position of ultimate safety.
Requirement 4: Learn to Wait Upon God: Time is a tool in God’s hand, and its passing will either strengthen our faith or undermine it, depending on how we respond. Take note because Scripture is clear: “God . . . acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him” (Isa. 64:4). No matter how many days, weeks, months, or years pass, the Lord will still keep His promises to you. Trust is all He requires of His children.
Requirement 5: Learn to Acknowledge, Repent, and Profit from Faith Failures: We all make mistakes and fail to rely on God at times. We run ahead of His timing, trying to invent our own solutions to the problems we face, or achieve the desires of our hearts in our own ways. Although there are certainly consequences for this, we must never imagine that the Father gives up on us. The Lord never turned His back on Abraham, and He will not forsake us either. However, God will continue to try our faith until we are able to trust Him with everything we love in life. Therefore, instead of merely regretting our failures, we should acknowledge them, repent of our unbelief, and make every effort to avoid such mistakes in the future.
Response on “Walking in Faith” Do you have confidence that God will fulfill every promise He’s made to you? Do you trust Him to lead you in the best possible path for your life? Are you willing to put those you love most in His capable hands? I hope you can answer “yes” to these questions because when you become a believer, you entered the school of faith for this very purpose—to trust Him more. Friend, don’t miss God’s best in your life because of fear. Grow in your relationship with the Father by listening to, depending on, waiting on, and obeying Him. At times when you fail, learn from your mistakes. Remain devoted to the Lord even when everything appears contrary to what He has promised you. You can rest assured that He is trustworthy and will keep His promises to you. You cannot lose by trusting Him, and there is no substitute for faith in the life of a believer.
What makes waiting on God’s timing so difficult?
Do you take an active role in the waiting process by praying, reading God’s Word, and counting on His promises with expectation? Would these make the waiting process easier to handle? If so, how?
VIII. Reflecting on God’s Faithfulness: Isaiah 40:8 tells us, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” God’s principles do not change and will never fade—they are eternal. This is true of His character as well, which means He is consistent, trustworthy, and committed to providing the very best for His children regardless of how our circumstances may look. Everything around us may seem as if it is falling apart; yet, God is still moving and working—and His purposes will be accomplished. Time has no effect upon God nor upon how He makes His plans and decisions. Nothing that happens in our lives or in the world will ever surprise Him or interrupt what He is achieving for us. This is why we can always count on Him being true to all of the promises He’s made to us. Therefore, let us take time to reflect on His faithfulness.
VIII.1. Knowing it is true: Lamentations 3:22–23 reveals, “The LORD’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Yet, how can we confirm that this is, in fact, true? We can be absolutely certain about God’s faithfulness because of how He has acted throughout history. Hebrews 13:8 affirms, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He has never failed His people and He never will.
VIII.2. Conditional versus unconditional promises: You may wonder, “Yes, God is faithful, but isn’t the fulfillment of His promises contingent upon our obedience?” At times it is; however, sometimes it isn’t. Many of God’s biblical promises are unconditional—it doesn’t matter whether or not we obey Him, God will proceed with His plan regardless of our response to Him. An example of that is His pledge to send us a Savior. Jesus came to die for our sins regardless of whether we thought we needed a Savior or not. On the other hand, God’s conditional promises are dependent upon our submission to Him. For example, we will not actually experience the salvation Jesus offers unless we believe in Him. We must respond to Him in faith as our Savior and receive the gift of eternal life in order to enjoy it.
VIII.3. Experiencing God’s faithfulness is the reward of obedience. God will never stop being faithful to you. However, His best blessings are reserved for those who obey Him. Psalm 16:11promises, “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” What happens if God reveals the path of life to you and you refuse to follow it? Then you will not experience His joy or the delights He has for you. Therefore, this is not an issue of His faithfulness, but of yours to obey.
VIII.4. Seek God for direction: So how do we remain obedient to God in order to experience His faithfulness? The first thing we must learn to do is seek His guidance. Proverbs 3:5–6 admonishes, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Living a godly life does not come naturally to us—neither does trusting and submitting to God. Yet, He will teach us how to follow Him and live a life that is pleasing to Him. He will also show us that we can always have faith in His faultless character.
VIII.5. Listen to God: The second thing you must do if you would like to experience God’s faithfulness is learn to listen to Him. If you never discover how to hear His voice, you will never be able to trust Him fully or grow from what He is doing in your life. God may direct you in ways you do not understand; however, listen to Him anyway and do as He says. Remember, “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). He sees the path ahead when you cannot, and in His great wisdom, He is ordering your steps to fulfill His purpose for your life. Therefore, listen to Him and do whatever He tells you, because obedience always brings blessing.
VIII.6. Watch for God’s help: Sometimes God will be very specific about what He desires for you to do or what He will accomplish in your life. This is because the more difficult the path before you, the more He will have to help you and He wants you to have faith and depend upon Him. Daniel’s experience in the lion’s den is a perfect example of this. Daniel’s enemies tricked King Darius into punishing him for worshipping God. The sentence was death by lions. Yet, he kept his eyes fixed upon the Lord despite his terrible circumstances and was saved. Because of Daniel’s confidence that God would help him, even King Darius ended up praising God. This is the key to the trials you face as well: Do not focus on the problems—watch for God’s help. Knowing God will never forsake you will help you face every obstacle that comes along with hope and perseverance.
VIII.7. Cultivate godly thoughts: Finally, if you would like to experience God’s faithfulness, then you must embrace His Word. As the children of Israel stood ready to claim the Promised Land, the Lord told Joshua, “Be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7).God wants His people to be successful, which is why He always admonishes you to cling to Scripture. In the Bible are all the timeless principles that will help you live a godly life and all the testimonies that will help you remember God’s enduring faithfulness. Therefore read it with joy, knowing that all He has done for Daniel, Joshua, and the rest, He will do for you as well if you will just trust Him and obey His commands.
Response on “Reflecting on God’s Faithfulness”
There is no doubt that God can will keep His promise to you because He is absolutely faithful. The only question is whether you will commit to seeking Him to listen His commands watching what His help, and embrace His Word. God wants the very best for you and will never lead you astray. And if you stay in the center of His will, you will experience the very best He has to offer. Will you trust Him? Will you submit to God and leave all the details of fulfilling His promises to you in His capable hands? Don’t miss out on His best blessings because of doubt. Trust Him and obey.
IX. The Faith to Follow
The grace of God is demonstrated by the fact that He has a plan and purpose for our lives that He wants to reveal to us. It’s a pathway He’s designed specifically for each one of us, yet some of us may fail to consider this. We move through life without giving God a second thought. Instead of wondering whether our lives have counted for anything, we can choose to believe that the Lord has the best plan for us, discover His path, and get on it as soon as possible.
IX.1. If we don’t fully trust God, we may be reluctant to follow the path He’s chosen for us: Even though He always leads us the right way, our fears or uncertainty could cause us to sidestep His commands and opt for following our own course. Proverbs 3:5-8 tells us what’s required to follow the Lord and what the benefits will be.
IX.2. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding” (v. 5):
God commands us to trust Him. Trust is a strong belief in someone’s integrity, ability, and character. This is the kind of confidence we are to have in the Lord. Then whatever He says or requires of us, we will know with certainty that it is right. If we lack trust, we won’t follow Him and will find ourselves living outside the will of God. On the other hand, if we’ve spent a lifetime trusting and obeying Him, we can testify that He has never let us down.
The basis for trust in God is His sovereignty. He is the divine Ruler over all things and all people at all times. His sovereignty is His wisdom, power, and righteousness all wrapped into one. The Lord’s purpose is always right and good even if it doesn’t look that way from our perspective. We can’t always understand why He allows illness, trouble, or heartache, but we can know that He is a loving and trustworthy God. If we don’t believe this, we’ll question His will when situations don’t match our expectations. That’s why we’re told not to lean on our own understanding. When we don’t comprehend what’s happening, we can trust in God because He never changes. Knowing that He’s always gracious, merciful, and kind allows us to rest in His sovereign will for our lives. He knows us intimately and has chosen exactly the right path.
The degree to which we are to trust God is with all our heart. Instead of relying on our own knowledge, perception, or reasoning, we should put our total trust in the Lord. This requires more than just agreeing with Him. We can actually agree with God about many teachings in the Bible without actually trusting Him. Agreement means we believe something is right, but genuine faith responds to that belief with action—we do what God says because we trust Him to guide us the right way. Wholehearted trust also means we can’t pick and choose areas we entrust to Him while trying to keep other parts of our lives under our control. It’s foolish to rely on our own perception because it is so limited, but God’s understanding is complete and eternal. Even when we don’t comprehend or like what’s happening, we can still rely on His loving wisdom and respond in trust.
IX.3. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (v. 6):
IX.4. To acknowledge someone is to recognize him. But when we acknowledge God, we are not merely admitting that He exists but confirming that He is our Lord who has authority over us and the right to give us direction in every area of our lives. In each choice or situation, we acknowledge Him by surrendering to His will and trusting Him fully.
“He will make your paths straight.” When we follow the Lord’s guidance, He protects us from side roads and eliminates obstacles and confusion along the way. In basic terms, the straight path is the one of obedience. We may stumble along the way or need redirection, but God repeatedly brings us back when we have a heart to obey Him. His path isn’t always easy, but it’s always the best. When we think we can do a better job of plotting our own course for happiness and prosperity, it may look good for a while, but eventually we’ll suffer the wear and tear that comes from taking unprotected detours.
IX.5. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil” (v. 7):
After instructing us on what to do, God then gives us a warning.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” Proverbs 26:12 says, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Whenever we choose our own way instead of trusting the Lord, we are playing the fool because one day we are going to stand before God and give an account of how we lived. But if we’re wise, we’ll seek the Lord, listen to His directions, and trust Him. Since He cannot lie, we know that God will always keep His promises, and whatever He says is true.
“Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” To fear God is to recognize and honor Him as not only the sovereign Ruler of the universe, but the Lord and Master of our lives. If we truly believe this, we’ll turn away from sin and seek to live in obedience to Him.
IX.6. “It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones” (v. 8): Every day we are faced with a variety of choices, and what we decide to do is based on whether we believe God—that He has a plan for our lives and has chosen the best possible path for us. If we’re willing to listen and trust Him, we’ll discover that His path leads to healing and refreshment. There will be an underlying sense of peace, assurance, confidence, and satisfaction when we follow Him instead of going our own way.
Response on “The Faith to Follow”
In what area of your life do you have the most difficulty trusting God? Why do you think it’s so hard to trust Him with this? What promises in His Word could bring you assurance of His trustworthiness?
Does knowing God is sovereign over all the events in your life help you trust Him? Why or why not? Which of His other attributes motivate you to trust Him?
It’s easier to trust someone we know very well than someone we don’t. With this in mind, how well do you know the Lord? Since the Scriptures are God’s self-revelation, what do you need to do to increase your trust in Him?