Remaining Faithful

1 Peter 1:7 (TLB) These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return.

Have you ever been in a place where you have struggled to remain faithful to God? Your church attendance is down, your demeanor is down, your feelings have been hurt, your mind can't seem to keep a single positive thought then something else happens you don't like and you just give up in your heart. Even if you still show up places, you're really not into what is going on. Happy Christians seem to just put you over the edge and you really don't even want prayer… I have a secret to share - you are not alone! All of us will go through these days or even seasons of feeling less than enough for the call on our lives. The number 1 thing I want you to remember is this: when we give into these "feelings" and back away from what we know to do, we are falling for the plan of the enemy. This is his best tactic: offense.

There have been days when I've been so aggravated with people for disobeying God that my flesh is screaming out to completely go off on those who know better, but thank God for the Holy Spirit! I have to pray my way through these situations and allow God to speak. When someone is down in a rut the last thing they need is a Christian with a holier than thou attitude to come fix them. These are our opportunities to shine. These are the things we pray for - God show us who to help today - God let me be a light to someone in need. Then we see someone in need and think "oh Jesus, not this person." Right? Be completely honest with yourself, when you see someone that really irks you for whatever reason, legit or not, the initial reaction is not - "Yay, let's help them!" These are the very ones who are the sandpaper in our lives. They are rough and we don't like the way it feels when they come against us, however, this roughness is what smooths out all the junk in our own lives. This is where we work out our patience and love. Just as a pearl must go through the tough grains of sand before it's beauty shines, so we too must go through some stuff that doesn't feel good to our flesh but it is refining our spirit.

This is the time to remain faithful to God. Do not quit in the middle of your hell, you will definitely need Jesus all the more to get through. Victory is a promise to those who are obedient. Are you one who is willing to remain faithful and see the other side? What is it that is keeping you from remaining committed to your church? Your family? Your giving? Your job? Let's be the ones that remain faithful to God through it all and we will rejoice in the end!

Deuteronomy 20:4 (TLB) For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you the victory!