Believing Christ as He Prepares the Way

Have you ever thought about your unbelief? Probably not. You know he is the way to salvation. The only way that we inherit the kingdom. Believing in him is the only way to be cleansed of your sins of unrighteousness and be renewed by the sacrifice of his blood. Believing IN Him is not the problem we face. It's believing his word.

We always say, "There is a reason for everything we go through." And it's easy for us to say these words until we are facing a problem ourselves, and when someone tries to tell us so, we are overcome with unbelief. Why is that? Because we can recommend a remedy to someone during their trial but we tend to forget our words in the midst of our own spiritual illness. So, I have been dealing with the idea of belief in the words of God. In the words of Beth Moore, "We can believe in Christ but fail to stand firm in belief and choose to find him trustworthy day to day."

If we cannot trust our God, we cannot obtain the freedom that God has destined for us to have. We must believe that his freedom requires us to sacrifice things sometimes that we would normally not. We must believe that our struggles and trials are somehow refining us into better human beings. Because we are so fallen, we must have Christ constantly teaching us the things that are keeping us from our full potential in Him. Sometimes it is taking away things for a while. Sometimes it is taking the things closest to you from you for a time so that you can only rely on Him. He will teach you to be more disciplined so that when it is given back, you will be stable and firm in Christ and more prepared to handle it. It is our trust in God that keeps our foundation in Christ so solid.

Anyone can doubt. Anyone can have unbelief. But a Christian takes the trials and proves them to be learning experiences. The trials are used for us to have time with Him so that we might grow in deeper relationship with Him to increase our strength, knowledge, and spiritual maturity. If we cannot believe that our pain reflects God's lessons and believe He is teaching us something through it, then we cannot grow.

I was reading in John and it says, "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" I was thinking to myself, "Oh God, I want to believe you so much. Just so that you can show me the heavenly things." If we can't believe in what God is doing here on earth through our lives, then he can't possible show us the amazing things he has for our future. He cannot give us visions. He cannot show the extraordinary to us.

So, I encourage you to believe God. Believe that sometimes the things he does are temporary, sometimes they are permanent, but He is always preparing the way for his people so that they might go forward in Him. Always remember though, that he knows the desires of your heart. Be accepting to His will, but He does know you and cares for you.

Psalm 139:1-3 says, "Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."

written 11.10.2007