Many people talk about faith growing through hardship, but others find that seasons of peace and stability deepen their trust in God in a different way. Looking back on your own life, when do you think your faith has grown the most, and why?
Ever tried getting fit?
What was more effective? effort or sitting on the sofa?
its the same spiritually, having to work means growth.
Sadly, this is human nature. I have no idea where this concept came from. The concept that once you become saved, you will live the rest of your life in peace, and everything will be rainbows and lollipops. That you will coast through life without a care in the world, and you will not have to worry about a single thing.
That storm in your life will come, and it will beat against your walls. The wind and rain or negativity, or even outright evil, may swirl around you and beat on every side of your house. It does not matter how fierce it may be. Trust in God. Know that God is right there in it with you. Remember Peter?
“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter came down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:27-30
He had enough faith to step out of the boat, but not for the storm that seemed overwhelming. Most people are, sadly, foul-weather Christians. When all is going great? All is good. Maybe we don’t read today. Maybe we get so comfortable that we forget to pray today. Then tomorrow comes, then the next day. Then perhaps we are a little too tired this week, so we can skip church.
Then the storm comes, and HELP ME JESUS!
It has been my experience that this is extremely rare. Regardless of the season, though, we can be assured that Jesus loves us; this I know, for the.. You know. God is with us always. He wants us to be with Him always.
Peter
My faith has definitely grown through times of hardship. It’s in these times that I learn the most about God’s faithfulness. I can go back and remember and then take what I learned into the present.
It would be nice if I could say that my faith grows more in peaceful times, but that isn’t true of me. Hard times tests my faith and when I come to the end of it, I have always found that God was faithful. Maybe not in the way I wanted, and maybe not in a way I thought best, but He was present and He was in it.