"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." - Psalm 42:11
Have you ever been discouraged? Of course you have. Have you ever lost hope because life made a left turn when your thought you were going to the right? It is the reality of living in a world that has rejected the One who created it. A world that suffers under the burden of sin and the brokenness that sin brings.
I was talking with someone the other day. They were sharing their concern for their child. The child, who once had been “sold out” to Jesus, was now struggling with their faith. Questioning their faith and God. I would hazard a guess that most Christian parents know that concern. But it is not like pulling your child out of the street by the arm so they don’t get hit by a car. When it comes to facing life and the struggle it brings, they must choose to get out of the street on their own. You can certainly pray for them and should. But no amount of talking (or nagging) will coax them out of the street. You must love them through their struggle of faith.
I told my friend that what we see is like looking at a picture. A moment in time. We should be careful that we don’t draw the wrong conclusions about their life. I asked if they could remember a point in time when the child professed their faith in Jesus. “Yes” was the answer.
I am an eternal security guy. I believe that once your are adopted by faith into the family of God, nothing can change that. I believe that being sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) means you are sealed. It is a forever thing. I believe that when Jesus said (John 10:28) “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”) That “no one” means no one, including you, the person who has been given eternal life. The person who was born again.
I told my friend that they needed to trust God and believe His Word is truth. (Oh, did that sound like Proverbs 3:5-6?) That the certainty of salvation applies to their child even when they see the child wandering into the street – not embracing their faith. Struggling to understand why what happened to them, happened to them. Is God really there? Does their faith really matter? Don’t draw the wrong conclusion from the photo. God sees from beginning to end. We only see what is now and what we can see in the photo album representing their life in the past. God is sovereign. He’s got this. (Hebrews 11:1) “Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen.” So I encouraged my friend and I encourage you, friends, with this.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7
And perhaps one more.
"the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My [Jesus] name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:26-27
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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