Keeping the faith in hard times is challenging for most people. Though faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, we generally want to have something to hold on to in hard times so we can keep the faith. Many people go into survival mode in hard times and do not have the strength to walk by faith. Perhaps, they may have been disappointed so many times that they find it safer to walk by sight.
Today’s text reminds us that the Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him. One of the reasons we have to keep the faith in hard times is because of the faithfulness of God. Behold, the Lord, will not allow those who trust in him to be overcome with grief and overwhelmed with desperation.
God is faithful in his love and steadfast in his protection of those who delight in him. During these difficult times, we have to remember that God will uphold us. That does not mean we will not be impacted by COVID-19, or by the financial crisis that is looming in this country and around the world. Indeed, many of us may experience the loss of a loved one through COVID-19. Some may lose their employment or suffer hardships in their finances. Yet we have to be resolute in our faith in the Lord, our deliverer.
If you are looking for a reason to keep the faith, may I share a couple! First, remember how the Lord delivered you before. The Lord cannot and will not fail you. No matter how difficult things get, trust God. He is still doing miracles today. Indeed, God is still healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, and rescuing the oppressed.
The same God, who gave you the job that you just lost, can give you another one. If he can heal you of the flu, he can heal you of coronavirus. Since the Lord supplied all your needs when you were unemployed or struggling financially in the past, he can certainly do it again in the present.
Secondly, rest in his promises. That’s what David is doing in this Psalm. He begins by reminding his people, “Do not fret because of those who are evil” (v. 1). May I tell you not to fret because of the terror of COVID-19! God promised that he would deliver us from all our troubles (Psalm 34:19). He guarantees that he will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord promised to strengthen us and to uphold us by his righteous hand.
Therefore, we can keep the faith because of what God has done for us, and because of who he is. So then, let us continue to persevere in hard times, and let our trust in God be evident for all to see. For as long as the Spirit of the Lord continues to empower and comfort us, we can go through hard times with Jesus' joy.
Prayer- Thank you, Lord, for your unfailing love and your faithfulness. May our faith be strengthened when we go through hard times because we trust in you.
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