I once read a story about a pastor’s wife who was jogging one day when she saw a man dressed in white standing in a cornfield. She had recently been going through a difficult trial, and when she saw this man, whom she recognized as Jesus, He said to her: “Don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know who you are? When you know this, it is not really as hard as you think.”
There is a great lesson here for all of us. When we know who God is and the authority He has, and know who we are in Christ, having faith is not that difficult. When we have faith, we release God to perform His perfect work and thus to glorify Himself. When we exhibit a tenacious, unwaivering faith, others see that He is lifted up in and through us. But often, just when we begin to exercise faith, doubt knocks on the door. Although we know very well that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” our very next thought begins with, “Yes, but …” It is at that very moment when a lie begins to appear as belief fades into the background.
Faith is defined as “confidence or trust in a person or thing; belief that is not based on proof.” When we fail to exercise faith, we quench the Holy Spirit and prevent Him from doing the work that He desires to accomplish through us. There are a few that are mighty men and women of faith, and multitudes that are habitual doubters.
A spiritual weakling is one who is too proud to ask God for help. This is also one who is afraid that his faith will fail and he look foolish and weak. But 1 Corinthians 1:27 tells us, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”
A spiritual weakling may also be:
greedy, wanting to take credit for whatever is accomplished
self-absorbed and insensitive to what God and others want or need
too logical to imagine that God has a miracle just for him or her
too stubborn to admit that he needs God’s help
too busy to spend time in prayer while building a relationship with God
On the other hand, a spiritual giant has learned that exercising faith intrigues others, causing them to take notice. Jesus Himself said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32 When one exhibits a sustaining and unwaivering lifestyle of faith, many are moved to discover its source. This presents an opportunity to tell them in whom you have placed your trust.
We cannot live for Jesus as we were both designed and called by Him to live without boldness. When we are timid and vascillating, we are living a life that is out of fellowship with God. Read with me 2 Timothy 1:12 and hear the staunch boldness in Paul:
” … nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”
No waivering here; only a resolute decision to stand boldly for Christ at all cost! I challenge you to join those that have finally come to realize that a waivering faith shames our Savior. A timid Christian is uncertain that the promises of God are true and trustworthy. A bold believer accepts that “all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
Our walk talks and our talk talks, but our walk talks louder than our talk talks! Amen!