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Thermometers measure air temperature, either indoors or outdoors. With that simplified definition in mind, do you have a faith thermometer that measures hot and cold? Do you consider your faith hot when things are going well and God answers your prayer requests in a timely manner? Conversely, does your faith temperature slip towards cold when life throws everything at you and your prayers go unanswered? I admit that there are days when I feel that way.
It's easy to feel good about our faith journey when the roses are blooming, the bank account is full, and everything in your life is on track. But what about those times when troubles find you? And let’s face it, in this life, troubles abound. Even Jesus says in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.” You may be in the midst of difficulties right now—things that are challenging your beliefs and might be lowering the temperature on your faith thermometer.
Here’s the full verse in John 16:33: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)
As I write these words, my wife and I are facing health-related challenges and potential dual job losses. We do not know how things will play out, but we have decided to trust in God’s plan no matter what, and to cling to the peace that Jesus offers us by overcoming the world and all of its hardships. I read something the other day in a devotional by Michelle Bengtson that ties this together. “The one fundamental thing that God asks from us is that we believe, that we trust Him. We tend to approach life thinking; Show me, and then I’ll trust you, but God tells us to trust Him, and then He’ll show us.”
Maintaining our faith and trusting in God can be an uphill climb when troubles threaten to topple the apple cart and we question God’s involvement in our lives and in our afflictions. But it’s during those times that he implores us to do just that—to never give up on him because he will never give up on us.
“Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
I’ve laid awake at night, wondering where God is and why my prayers, are seemingly, not being answered. I’ve questioned His promise to never leave me or forsake me. I’ve raised my fist at God in anger because I couldn’t understand His plan and couldn’t see a way out of my hardship. But that’s when God reminds me that I am saved by grace through faith and that no matter what calamity befalls me or you, He has a plan to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.
"Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'” (John 20:29 NIV)
If you and I keep trusting in God’s promises, I firmly believe that our faith thermometer will consistently show readings near the top, and that’s a pretty hot place to be!
Paul Smyth
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