I encourage you to build upon the certainty of faith
Certainty of faith gets challenged when life dishes up trouble, forcing us to live through circumstances we never dreamed would come our way. However, it’s during those times that genuine faith recognises the providence of God who oversees our lives, allowing us to focus on the Lord for determination to endure and strength for stability.
Faith, being “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1) looks past the present to focus on the God who rules over time and events. Faith in and of itself is not the end, but the means to engage with the one true God, who is the beginning and the end of all things (Isa 46:9-10; Rev 22:13). Faith recognises the enormity of God, trusting His purpose for our circumstances, knowing that He sets the boundaries for all things to work within.
Human limitations
While our limited human understanding often leads us to confusion, insecurity and fear, it’s God who administers our lives even in those dark times. Job, having lost everything, while suffering both physically and mentally, acknowledged that for God “even the darkness is not dark… the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you” (Psalms 139:12). The Lord sees and understands your darkest times with perfect clarity. Nothing escapes His loving and intimate knowledge of your life.
Through difficulties the Lord creates opportunities for us to honour Him in ways we could never have imagined and through circumstances we would never have planned. The Lord does this so “that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). Struggles awaken our senses to the most important and foundational truths which we should value most. Certainty of faith is cemented in gospel truth because “we have been justified by faith; we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). We cling to these rock solid truths by faith because they present the clarity of the unchangeable Lord Jesus Christ; in Him we trust, especially when our vision is blurred by struggles.
Our human interaction with faith is initiated by the Holy Spirit (Rom 12:3; Eph 2:8-9; 2Co 4:13), then “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). We are dependent upon God’s Word for our growth and certainty of faith. Stop spending personal time in God’s Word and the assurance that faith produces within you will reduce progressively. Despair will begin to set in with hopelessness soon to follow.
Faith’s foundation
Faith is the ground block of Christian reality, the first building block on which all other spiritual qualities are stacked. Therefore, “be watchful, stand firm in the faith …be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13), “…walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7). Grip faith tightly beloved, “that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:12). Be unashamed to share with your unsaved friends, those lost and entrapped by sin; “that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28).
Today, determine to build upon the certainty of faith. “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life…” (1 Timothy 6:11-12).