When our faith is being tested we sometimes hear subtle voices, each one telling us we need to do more. It is not enough just to trust God, we should do this and that, we can’t just wait on Him. If we listen to these voices, doubt will soon creep in, and we will find ourselves in a spiritual conundrum. Being faced with this conundrum, many start looking for loopholes, such as, claiming and standing on the Word, decreeing things and speaking what they want to come to pass, etc., all in a futile attempt to get what they want without having to endure the trial or, the test of their faith.
What is the remedy for this? How do we keep from falling into the trap of looking for loopholes? First, we must know why we entertain these falsities. The reason is this, the flesh is resistant to emptying itself and taking the form of a bond-servant, and humbling itself to become obedient, so, when we find ourselves in a trial of our faith, the flesh looks for ways around it. Thus, the loopholes of claiming, decreeing, and all other things the flesh can find to escape the will of God.
So what do we do instead? We face reality, which is the Truth, that is, Jesus. We look to Him and to the Father to help us through the trials of faith. We shun the tendencies to lean on our own understanding, and, instead, acknowledge Him throughout the trials, looking not at our circumstances, but to the hills from which comes our help.
We press forward one day at time, ignoring the voices and the doubts, and trust our Father and our Savior even though all seems dark and unreachable and unattainable. We accept by faith that God’s integrity is beyond reproach, and that He will not leave us helpless. We continue, day by day, being honest with the Lord about whatever feelings we feel, laying ourselves bare to Him who loves us, allowing Him to judge the thoughts and intentions of our heart.
And dear, dear, children of God, regardless of how dark and excruciating the trial is, regardless of the severity of the voices and doubts that might have plagued us, as we near the end we will find the Holy Spirit witnessing to our heart and revealing to our spirit that the Lord has been working in us during the whole ordeal, steadily and lovingly refining our faith by pruning away the encumbrances of the flesh, and melting away the dross, until our faith itself stands pure, a glorious and sacred testament to the integrity of our God.
Dear friends, the sin that so easily entangles us is unbelief, and unbelief begets double-mindedness. So anytime we find ourselves doubting, it is because we are double-minded; and we are double-minded because we are allowing our flesh to influence us. We need only look away from our doubts, refuse to look for loopholes, and trust the Lord completely, casting our cares upon Him, because He cares for us. As we continually obey Him, He leads us from victory to victory.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing, James 1:2-4.
Please weigh everything I say on the scales of the Word of God.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
jondavidbanks.com 