Life is tough. I know social media doesn’t usually make it look that way for other people, but in the real world, the things not posted on social media show us that LIFE IS TOUGH!
The reality is, we make life a lot tougher than it has to be because we don’t trust in God.
The story of Abraham in Genesis is all about trusting God through the good times and the tough times. During the trials, it is easy to turn away from our confidence in God and instead turn to doubt or disbelief about the situation we find ourselves in.
Our faith in God is tested daily through…
1. Parenting mistakes (or actions we see our children take)
2. Financial struggles
3. Work challenges
4. Marital problems
5. Friends disappointing us
6. Illnesses
7. Loss of a loved one
…the list can grow quite lengthy.
Through these times of struggle, we have an opportunity to grow our faith in God by trusting in His plan for our life. Or, we find an opportunity to grow our anxiety and worries by not trusting in God’s plan.
In Genesis 22, God asks Abraham to take his son, Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham confidently obeys, knowing God’s true character and having faith in God’s promise that Isaac would fulfill another promise God had made to Abraham.
During our trials, we have to cancel out the negativity in our minds and remember that God will always provide.
Satan will be there to respond or attack you during your trials. You’ll find him when you find yourself saying…
1. “This is crazy…”
2. “I will never be able to…”
3. “I am not good enough to…”
4. “This isn’t fair…”
5. “Forgiveness isn’t an option…”
6. “I can’t believe they did that…”
7. “Why would God allow that to happen…”
You will also find Satan in the moments of high anxiety and sleepless nights spent worrying about the tests and trials you are going through when you have lost your faith and confidence in God.
So how do you get your faith back or grow it stronger?
First, know that God knows it is tough for the trials you’re going through. Print this verse and read it during the tough times. Then turn to God for guidance and look for the lessons He is teaching you.
****James 1:2-4****
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.
****
Also recognize there’s a big difference between a TEST God is putting you through and TEMPTATION.
God will never tempt you with sin, but he will test you to grow your faith in Him.
FOUR REASONS TO HAVE FAITH
1. Knowledge
Only God knows his plan for your life. Where your knowledge of his plan for you ends, your faith begins. Trust that the challenges you’re going through today are designed to help you accomplish the things you need to accomplish in the future.
2. Obedience
God has called you to be obedient to Him. Part of that obedience is living a life that serves Him, a life that sees you in His word daily, and a life that leads you to understand that through obedience, God will bless you.
3. Confidence
When you don’t get what YOU think you NEED in the timing YOU think you NEED it, have confidence to know the Lord will provide what HE knows you need. God may not answer our prayers in the way we hoped He would answer them, but in those times, He will always give us the grace we need to overcome the trials. Other times, God may return what we lost, restore our broken relationships, or heal our illnesses. In either situation, He always provides.
4. Growth
The trials we go through develop our virtues. They call us closer to God, and in doing so, they grow our faith.
——Side Note—-
If you’re curious as to why God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac is considered a test and not a temptation, you aren’t alone. Depending on which version of the Bible you read, it is described as both.
That’s why it’s important to understand that the Bible is more than one story. When you study the entire story of Abraham, you realize that God didn’t randomly appear one day and ask this request. God had appeared to Abraham many times and given him many tests. Abraham knew God had a plan to make Isaac the father of his offspring. His faith is demonstrated when he told Isaac God would provide a lamb. And in the end, God provided a ram for the sacrifice.
Hebrews 11:17-19 highlights that Abraham trusted God completely in that moment, even though He didn’t know God’s entire plan.
Abraham knew the character of God, and he went obediently and with confidence to do what God had instructed him to do.
Many people believe the reason this story is in the Bible as a test for Abraham is because it is a story we can all relate to that would years later display the true pain God went through when He, too, sacrificed His only son on the exact same hill so that we could be forgiven of our sins today.
