The Strength of Faith

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 11:00 am Post subject: The Strength of Faith

The Strength of Faith

Scripture:

How long, O Lord, shall I cry, and you will not hear? Shall I cry out to you suffering violence, and you will not save? Why have you shown me iniquity and grievance, to see plundering and injustice before me? And there is a judgment, but opposition is more powerful.

And the Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets: that he that reads it may run over it. For as yet the vision is far off, and it shall appear at the end, and shall not lie: if it make any delay, wait for it: for it shall surely come, and it shall not be slack. Behold, he that is unbelieving, his soul shall not be right in himself: but the just shall live in his faith. (Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4)

For which cause I admonish you that you stir up the grace of God which is in you by the imposition of my hands. For God has not given us the spirit of fear: but of power and of love and of sobriety. Be not, therefore, ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but labor with the gospel, according to the power of God.

Hold the form of sound words which you have heard of me: in faith and in the love which is in Christ Jesus. Keep the good thing committed to your trust by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. (2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14)

And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith. And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree: Be rooted up and be transplanted into the sea. And it would obey you. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go. Sit down to eat. And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper and gird yourself and serve me, while I eat and drink; and afterwards you shall eat and drink? Does he thank that servant for doing the things which he commanded him? I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do. (Luke 17:5-10)

Reflection:

As we review the fortune of our path, we often fail to see the blessings before us. We take for granted the conveniences of our day and focus instead upon the challenges and tribulations of the worries of the world. How often do we cry out for our wants and fail to offer thanks for what sustains us? In our darkest day it is not folly to keep hope, for no challenge of the world can take from us the blessings which await those of faith.

Many voices have risen throughout the generations in pain with exclamations as to why He allows bad things to happen to good people. Those who lose hope and decrease in faith in such moments are limited in understanding of the breadth of this time as compared to His time. Our pain of now is but an experience of the blink of an eye compared to the eternal blessings which will come to the faithful through Him. For those who believe in Him, the hardships of the world will be left to the world to be exchanged for the blessings of His kingdom.

In the face of every challenge and every tribulation, He gives us the power of how we choose to respond. If we take the path of the hopeless, we will have no hope and will be consumed by our misery; but if we take the path of faith, hope shall never be lost. Those who hold Him close within their hearts will find no tribulation which cannot be endured for through faith He will lift us up. In the face of disaster in the world, blessed is the one with faith for they draw from the strength of the Holy Spirit to keep love and hope always within reach.

As evil walks through the halls of governments and oppression replaces the freedoms of people, many will fall to despair. In their condition, the people will cry out in their woes and wail in their sorrows, but it will be those with faith who will hold hope in their hearts. They know He will hear their prayers and will hold to account the purveyors of evil. The faithful will not fear what happens in this time for it is but a moment compared to what is to come.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier