In Times of Great Need God Will Sustain Us

23 Jan 2024

You really do need a newer car, to restore your marriage, to get your children to understand what’s at stake by their behavior, to make more money. What does it mean to have faith that your situation will work out?

Faith to believe that something you really “want” or “need” to happen “will” happen is a very different thing from faith that trusts God will do what’s best given His omniscient understanding of the situation.

The first instance is magic – that by simply believing something hard enough we can bind God or create an obligation for Him to do the thing we want. This is the fatal flaw of the prosperity gospel – that faith means humans can obligate God to do our will. Things will work out because of our faith.

Genuine faith is to believe that God can, and will, work everything for the good of those who love Him, but in ways that are often inscrutable to our human understanding. Things will work out because of our God.

At my lowest points, when I feel desperation, these verses often come to mind (and sustain me)…

“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread” (Psalms 37:23-25).

I know it’s hard, but God has your back. In times of great need, God will sustain us. So keep the faith. But that is faith in God, not faith in faith.

Until we reach every man…

Pat

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