We tell ourselves all the time, "God is faithful. He was faithful then; He will be faithful now." This is so very true, but I think it also is more important, and more helpful to the grievous and weathered heart to remind themselves that, "God was SOVEREIGN then; He will be SOVEREIGN now." I look to the prayer of Habakkuk in chapter 3. Israel has been sent to exile once again, under Babylonian rule, and Habakkuk prays this prayer outlining some of the most detrimental circumstances to certainly match the torment God's people are experiencing. He describes such seemingly insurmountable circumstances that anybody would look around and wonder, God, where are you? Why are you letting this happen? When will you put an end to this? A place that I can admit, even as a Christian of 12 years, I have sunken to losing faith in the moment of tribulation. First things first, when I say I have lost faith, I mean to have lost endurance of my faith. My faith isn't a bucket I fill up on my own or lose some of when it's been expended. Faith is granted to me by the Holy Spirit. However, I can lose endurance of faith. I can be shaken in my faith when the mountain looks too steep, or the waves grow too high. I find a weakness in my faith, possibly where I am trying to be self-reliant, or controlling, or impatient with God's timing, but it is just that, a weakness. Not a ceasing of belief that God is still God. Losing endurance in faith is normal and does not make you a bad Christian. Although, we must stay awake and be aware of the prowling one who will use this opportunity, this falter of firmness, to start us down a path of further unbelief. So, my point being, when you lose endurance, that's okay. But turn to Him who gives us faith by his Holy Spirit, our Helper sent through Jesus's resurrection. Easier said than done, right? Here are some practical ways that I have felt my faith replenished by a power only through Jesus, because I know for a fact, I didn't have the capacity for the kind of faith necessary to carry me through a storm.
1. Go to the Word
I titled this post intentionally. It's hard to feel like God is in control when it doesn't make sense. But first, we have to take a toxic thought captive and remind ourselves that our feelings are like paper blown in the wind; unreliable and everchanging. Just because I feel like God isn't ever present and acting, doesn't make it true. So go back to what is true. Open His word, read what is true, and let it act as the firm foundation that God gifted it to us to be.
2. Pray and Fast
Sometimes I feel like fasting is not properly understood in the church today or properly encouraged. The biblical purpose of fasting is to deny the flesh so as to replenish yourself with Christ's living bread and living water. What does your flesh crave daily? Food, water, social media? What is something that you know you will groan for and have to put the flesh to death over? God delights in the heart behind the fast, not the act itself. So, work that out between you and God, because I can guarantee if you ask Him to reveal to you something that your flesh idolizes, He will show you. Now obviously, you're not going to fast every time you pray. But if you have never fasted in prayer, I encourage you to go to the word and learn more about what God says about it. So back to the basics, pray. And I challenge and encourage you, start your prayer with thanks. Thank God for all of who He is, praise and worship him with your words, then bring your burden to Him and leave it with him. Speak it out loud at his feet and feel the relief.
3. Press Into Community
The enemy thrives on isolation. He tempted Jesus himself once he was all alone in the wilderness. How much more will he attack us? I have always been able to tell the difference in my emotional and mental resilience after I stop attending my small group regularly, aren't in conversation with reliant and biblical sisters, and inwardly turn to handle whatever it is I'm going through. Community is a tool and lifeline that God designed us for. In the beginning, God said it wasn't good for man to be alone, and it is just as true now.
4. Reflect and Remember
Take some time to really look back on your story. Remind yourself of where and when God has shown up and taken care of you time and time again. In addition, look at the Old Testament. Generation after generation of God remaining in control of every little thing His people has experienced since creation. Use your testimony as a tangible weapon to counterattack doubt.
If there is anything that is helpful to you in these times of shaken faith, leave a comment below! Like I said, we were made for community!
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