Challenges Test Our Faith

Trust His Plan

James 1:2-3 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

The last few weeks have been challenging. I’ve been incredibly busy but at the same time, it seems like nothing is moving forward. This particular trial feels like ‘my car’ is sitting in neutral... not moving forward, not moving backward. Simply not moving at all.

As Christians, we know God holds the Master Plan for our life, even when it seems like nothing is happening. This challenges us to trust that HE is happening, even when it seems nothing in our circumstances has changed at all.

Living from a place of ‘knowing’ isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s sometimes flat-out hard to trust that God really has a Plan...and we have to wait. We have to stand in neutral. We would rather slam the gas pedal to the floor, screech the tires on the pavement... and drive 100 mph to get somewhere.

Where do we want to go? We’re not sure, but anywhere would certainly be better than where we are!

When things seem to be at a standstill, we need to breathe. Pray. Rest in the Lord. God’s timing is often – frequently? – not our timing. In fact, if we really knew how long some of His plans were going to take, we may have tossed in the towel long ago. When God directs our paths, He sometimes leads us to and through places that don't make sense.

James is telling us to change our minds, and change our attitudes about our trials “of various kinds.” Look at whatever is getting under our skin as a test of faith...And if we hold on, if we lean in, our faith and trust in the Lord will become “steadfast” - which means stronger, resolute, and unwavering.

God’s timing, in retrospect, is always perfect.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Father, we ask for Your support and Your grace. When we’re being impatient, even petulant, about the circumstances in our human lives, please look at us with the loving eyes of a Father who sees his little 2-year-old child having a tantrum. Pick us up, hold us, comfort us, assure us.

The more we feel Your presence, the more we can trust You and stay focused on Your plans for us. We want to become more steadfast in YOUR truth and YOUR plan. Help us to say, “Yes Lord, I will let go and let God”. We give thanks for our trials because we know they are here to help us grow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Eye on the Evidence - Saturday Substack