The Struggle of Faith

by Lawrence Kelley

Faith is man's response to the perceived faithfulness of God. If we sense God to be faithful, it will become obvious by the way we respond to His promises. The struggle of faith comes when the promises of God appear to be contrary to the available data. Let us consider a few examples of this in scripture and then apply it to some specific areas that directly impact us all.

ABRAHAM AND COMPANY, died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them and embraced them (Heb 11). This is particularly pointed in Sara's case - Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised (v. 11). One more example. The Lord told Jeremiah to buy a field and to have the transaction duly witnessed and recorded. This sounds like business as usual, except that business as usual isn't usually conducted when the land you are buying is being invaded by a hostile enemy (Jer. 32). The most rational thing appeared to be selling everything off if you could find a sucker to buy it. But, God had promised that He would bring His people back into the land and prosper them in it, so the most rational thing in the world was to buy.

THE PRIORITY OF GOD'S PROMISES. All of God's promises of victory over sin and its consequences must be apprehended by faith in His word and not by our evaluation of the current circumstances. This means that believing requires strength and patience on account of the great struggle we experience. Unbelief is easy, skepticism requires no struggle - just surrender to your doubts. It is important at this point to note that faith and hope are not irrational, rather they are supremely rational because they conform to our highest and surest norms of thought - the sure words of God.

APPLICATIONS: The following passages contain promises God has made to each of us. Yet, in every instance there are circumstances that would suggest that they are not true. The question is, who or what do you believe?

The remission of sins - Acts 2:36-39 Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.

The assurance that God hears our prayers - Ps 145:18-19 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

We will not be overwhelmed by temptation - 1 Cor 10:13 God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Resurrection of the body - John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

The increase and perseverance of God's kingdom - Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

The supreme challenge is trusting God above all the competing messages. As Peter Liethart has so well put it, "God promises resurrection, but to the dead; he promises eternal life, but to the decaying; he calls them blessed, who abundantly thirst and hunger and are oppressed on all sides; he pronounces men justified, yet are they covered with sins and filth."

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This page was last modified on January 5, 2007