Faith Under Pressure?

He feels lost. Everything within his hemisphere, that he knows is safe, secure, that makes sense is turning flat on its head. He feels like he's under attack from all sides, all angles; emotionally and physically and spiritually. I've got a wife and three kids to feed he thinks, I can only last two months, at the most without income coming in, his whispers to himself.

Every time he thought about his current situation; of loosing his job, loosing his high-flying friends, loosing his home and now on the verge of loosing his mind; he feels his blood pressure shoot up a notch! In despair he looks up and cries out towards the sky, "Lord, the God of the angel armies, help me please, show me your hand in this situation". He falls to the ground on his knees pleading for mercy.

And the Lord's reply?

"My Son, it's time to give your faith that much needed workout. It is time to pull yourself up and forward by the shoestrings and makings of your faith"

**********************************************************************************
Now how many of us would be comforted by the answer given above? We would be like "God just move your hand, I Just want you to do something so that my life does not fall apart.". But we forget that most times when we want God to manifest his will in our lives, we need to give him something to work with. In today's trying times, more than ever, we need to show him the 'workout' of our faith, of the faith we confess and have in Jesus Christ, so that he in turn works everything out (good or bad) for our good.

The dictionary defines faith as thus:

• belief that is not based on proof (physical proof)

To have faith in God is to trust in the power of his words and the power of their promises. To trust that no matter what we are going through, he is there with us. To have faith is to believe without seeing the physical results that things are and will get better.

Faith is simply trusting and hoping on God, both in good and bad times.

It is very easy for us to 'practise' the element of faith when things in our lives are going great, and on track; job, wealth, family and all that are going according to God's plan.

What about when things are not going too great? What them becomes the nature of our faith.

It is difficult to live a life of faith in a world that sees by faith - Pastor Ray Macaulay.

It is difficult to workout our faith when all we see is contrary to that which we feel or believe should be reality of things. When this happens, this is when we must remember that we must workout or act on our confessed faith as Habakkuk 2:4 encourages. It reads "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith."

1 Peter 1:7 tells us that when trials comes our way, it will give our faith 'the 'work out' truly needs. And to be honest, most of us need this from time to time. It will show us to ourselves how big, small, strong or weak our faith truly is and empower us to do something about it. For the Just shall live by faith, and in these times, we need super-strength faith!

1 peter 1:7 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Faith is seeing our lives the way God sees it. Faith is working with God and believing the promises he made will come to pass, regardless the present situation. God promised that he would take us from glory to glory, and I believe the middle ground between going from one glory to the next is called tribulation and affliction.

The bible does teach us that we will experience trials and tribulations, (no one is immune to this) but God will be with us through it all, isn't that encouraging? Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 16:13 encourages us not to be put off by these trials, no matter how great, that we should be strong through it all. It reads "13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong."

Also James 1: 2 - 4 teaches us that when we face troubles such as described above and more, it gives us an opportunity to grow, and Lord knows a whole lot of us need some growing to do, especially in these times. It reads: 2 Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Faith is seeing a family, having lost their home, but believing God that this is just a passing phase, after sleeping on friend's sofa and floors for a few months, a stranger comes and gives them a beautiful house as a gift - all because he had a spare one!

Faith is seeing an individual not having an income for over a period of time, yet believing that God is their source and firmly holding onto the picture of God's promised reality, and in the midst of having no income, all needs are met and becomes totally debt free. (This is my testimony)

Faith is seeing an individual constantly being rejected from all job applications, but with a strong mind and heart, determines that God, his father owns the heavens and the earth and that there is a job out there for him. Every morning he gets up, applies again and again and again. He gets a job, not just any job but the director position for the company of some of the jobs he has been applying for.

Faith is believing that as it gets darker in the world, it will get brighter in the church, in the lives of God's children as confirmed in Isaiah 60: 1-2 reads "1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you."


So here is me encouraging us all today, regardless the circumstances you are going through, hold on to the very core and foundation of your faith. Flex it's muscles and give it a serious 'workout'. The foundation which it resides upon - Jesus Christ, means that we are already winners, we just need to bring its reality from the spiritual into the physical realm.

If the very essence of your faith is under pressure, HOLD ON TO the promises that God has given you. He is a faithful God, and will always come through.

What you are going through, is exactly what it is; you are going through it, on your way to glory.

By working out your faith in both good and bad times, gives God room to work on your behalf, so that your light will shine for all to see and in turn bringing glory to His holy name.

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."

1 Corinthians 16:13

Have a wonderful time working and building up the very essence of your faith, bring forth testimonies that will help others, whilst making God famous along the way.

Much Love
Remi Banjo
***Pictures by photobucket***