Trials and all sorts of hard times come to challenge our faith in Christ. While it is true that such hardships test our faith, it is also true that hardships provide a way for us to gain greater faith in God.
When big challenges come, however, things are different for us. Many of us find ourselves feeling weak or unable to overcome. Some of us think that we don't have a chance of winning. How do we deal with big challenges when we feel our faith is weak?
We hold on to the one who is stronger than the challenge we face: God.
God is greater
When hard times come, dear friends, we should hold on tighter to God for He is greater than anything that can ever come against us in our pursuit of Him. The Bible tells us:
"The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?" (Psalm 113:4-6)
God is higher than anything that we face. He is greater than our struggles, bigger than the challenges we face, stronger than the forces that harass us, and is far more powerful than anything that is named. In fact, the enemy that causes troubles and hardships for us is very afraid of God! James 2:19 tells us,
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!"
Think about that! Our Father, who gave His one and only Son for us, is able to do more for us than we could ever ask or even just imagine (see Ephesians 3:20). If He is for us, no one can ever go against us (see Romans 8:31). We should put our trust in Him and follow Him.
What to do when big challenges test our faith
Knowing all of these, here are some things we should do when big challenges come to test our mettle:
1) Come to Christ
The Lord Jesus Himself said that we should come to Him we are weary. He said in Matthew 11:28,
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
2) Know our identity in Christ
So many Christians cower in fear when challenges come. This shouldn't be. God called us to be victors in Christ. In fact, we are more than just victorious. Romans 8:37 tells us that "we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."
We must keep in mind that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). We are not to be fearful, but a people relying on the power of the Spirit of God and His love and wisdom.
3) Stand in the face of hardship
We must keep in mind that as Christ's followers and God's children, we are at constant war with a defeated foe who just can't believe the truth that he's already defeated. He will keep trying to tempt us and test our mettle with all sorts of attacks. Thus, we must stand strong against him in Jesus' name!
Ephesians 6:13 tells us to "take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." We must wear the armor of God (seen in Ephesians 6:14-17) and stand against the enemy's attempts.
No need to worry. Our God will never leave us nor forsake us. All we need to do is follow Him and obey every single thing that He says, according to His word.
