Hang In There, Keep the Faith

Knowing this was the week I had to share at Faith Lifts left me in a panic. By late Sunday afternoon I still had nothing concrete to write. I had plenty of starts on various ideas but nothing was coming together, nothing was gelling into a devotional. All I kept getting within my heart was the picture that most of us have seen at one time or another of the kitten, claws extended into a big knot at the end of a rope that had the caption, “when you get to the end of your rope tie a knot and hang on”. While very cliché and simple that really is all I was getting. So I’m going to be obedient and go with what I feel God is saying to someone out there. No fun or fancy story. No eloquent words. Just straight from my heart.The Christian walk by it’s very essence calls us to be a believing people. We are always called by the Word of God to reach out and grab ahold of God’s promises that He has given us. Not a one of us can say that our lives are at the point we never have to walk in faith for something or someone. Even if in our personal lives, at this very minute, we are on a mountaintop, not in need of any one particular thing, there is always someone we can be hanging on for in faith. And whether for ourselves or for someone else, we may be praying and believing for awhile. And long periods with no indication of the promise showing up, well, it gets wearying. And sometimes discouraging. The excitement goes out, we don’t see things changing and it gets to be work to believe God for what He has promised. We feel like we are at the end of our rope and don’t want to go on.

I want to encourage you to hang in there. Keep believing God for that marriage, for that child gone astray, for that healing, for the salvation of your neighbor, for that habit to be broken or whatever else it is that you are believing God for. Sometimes when it is the very hardest and you want to give up, that is when the turn around will come. Tie that knot in your rope with standing on the Word and with prayer and praising God for who He is. Get around people who will lift your arms and stand with you. Walk in the truth that you have. God is faithful and a keeper of His promises. He wants to show Himself strong on your behalf. He wants to work a work in your life that goes beyond what you are actually believing for. He wants us to rely on and trust in Him. Trust that He knows what He is doing. Keep the faith.

I am saying a prayer that the Lord would strengthen your weary arms, that He would stir up and renew your faith. I pray He would be your strong tower that you run to and that He would make a way where you see no way. May He fill your heart with a joy and peace that only He can give in the midst a storm or dry place. May you trust Him at His Word. Hang in there!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,

Which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,

And not to me only but also to all who have love His appearing.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8