Throughout the word of God, we are challenged to have faith in God. From Genesis to Revelation we are called to put our trust in the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him And he shall direct your paths.” Romans 1:17 tells us that the Just, that is you and I who say we are born again, shall live by faith, and 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us that we walk by faith and not by sight. As Christians our faith is important especially in times like these. According to Hebrews 11:1, “Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” It is our faith that keeps us going in spite of what we see, hear, or even feel. Our faith helps us to trust God to keep us and help us to get through the rough times in our lives.
As we experience these unprecedented times; this pandemic of COVID-19, declined of our economy, job losses, racial tension and many other things that has caused us to change our way of life and thinking, we must have faith in God. Believe it or not, God is the only one who can fix what is wrong in our world and in our lives. For too long we have put our trust in man, in government, in money, you name it, but we have failed to trust in the Lord. We have to remember that there is a way that seem right unto a man, but the end is death.
In times like these we have a tendency to abandon our faith, have a faith failure, or simply think that God does not care. It is easy to trust God when things are going well, but in hard times can we hold on to our faith. In times like these I think of Job. Job was a man just like you and me. His faith in God was strong. His trust was in God and not in his possession or his physical wellbeing. The devil accused him of serving God only because of what God had given him and his health. God allowed the devil to take everything away from him. However, the record says that Job rented his clothes and fell down and worshipped the Lord. He said, “Naked I came into the world and naked I shall return. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Not only that, but when the Lord allowed the devil to attack his body to the point that his wife suggested that he should curse God and die, Job still remain faithful and said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” Job did not understand all that was happening to him, but he trusted God. As bad as things may seem now, we need to have faith in God.
In spite of what you see or hear, you must understand that God is in control. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. I know we have been praying for a breakthrough with this pandemic, this racial tension, this political battle, and many other things. It may seem like God is not listening or going to answer our prayers but continue to trust in the Lord. I discovered a long time ago that our ways are not like his ways and our thought are not like his thought. I have to have faith in God. I have to know that and believe that he will never leave me nor forsake me. I have to know that the God I serve won’t put no more on me than I can bear. I have to believe that if God brings it to me, he will take me through it. I God to wait on the Lord. For if I wait on the Lord, he shall renew our strength.
Our lives have been altered by this pandemic, and it seem like things are spinning out of control. Our world seems to be falling apart, but God is. God is the same yesterday, today and forever more. God is a promise keeper and he won’t leave us or forsake us. God is the strength of my life. He is my all and all and without him I can do nothing. I have to have faith in times like these.
I encourage you to hold on to your faith. Don’t allow the storms of life to cause you to drift away. Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Your labor is not in vain in the Lord. I have confidence that this to shall pass. I don’t know when or how, but I trust God. He is able in times like these.
Pastor Jackson is the pastor of the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, Hinesville, GA and a member of the Liberty County United Ministerial Alliance.