I Didn’t See That Coming: Don’t Put Down Your Faith

“Don’t Put down your faith”

Ephesians 6:10-13

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

When you feel like what is coming at you is stronger than what is in you, this principle of spiritual warfare and using the tools God has given us is crucial. Everyone is going to experience times where you face difficulties and the Bible can show us a lot about how to overcomes those. In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship any other God, except the one true God, and because of that, they were thrown into a firry furnace. Their deliverance happened in the fire, not from the fire.  This is a take away for all of us, that yes sometimes God delivers us out of what is crushing us, but a lot of the time he meets us in what is crushing us. 

We also see that moments of big faith come from a lifestyle of faithfulness. In Daniel Chapter 6, Daniel’s daily prayers strengthened his faith for the future trial, by consistently praying to God despite a decree forbidding prayer. Our faithfulness in the stillness, gives us faith in the storms. Don’t underestimate the power of the quiet faithful moments in your life with God.  Every prayer you pray, every worship song you sing, every scripture you read is like a rep for your faith muscle. 

You are protected, so be faithful to take up that shield of faith. Remember that no matter what life looks like, no matter how dark the clouds are ahead, we can hold on to 2 Corinthians 4:8 that says

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.