The Lord has been wrestling with my understanding of patient endurance. I naturally understood progression to be an increase in patience and an ability to have greater endurance. This seemed to be the most logical progression in growing in patient endurance. But as I was spending time with the Lord, I felt the Lord highlight that though physical outcomes are great – He is really after our hearts.
As I continued to press into what He was saying, I felt the Lord highlight that an increase in patient endurance is actually measured in an increase in FAITH.
“Without faith it is impossible to please God…”
– Hebrews 11:6
So how, then, do we grow in faith?
What is Faith?
Faith is Hearing, Believing, Acting, and Watching His Faithfulness.
Hearing
“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ .”
– Romans 10:17
We are talking about the Rhema word of God. When God speaks directly to you. It is when the Word becomes alive and active to us. When Joshua received instruction to walk around Jericho 7 times as a war time strategy, that was a Rhema word! It was not a word for all battle strategists to use at all times. It was a Rhema word for that time and in that moment. It was a word from God, and it was direction for Joshua.
As we mature in our walk with the Lord, we begin to experience Rhema Words more and more.
Believing
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for an assurance about what we do not see.”
– Hebrews 11:1
The world says I will believe it when I see it. Faith says I will see it when I believe it! To believe in someone is to trust that with 100% that what they say they will do.
Do you know someone who is always late? They say “I will meet you at 3pm”, but you know they won’t be there until 4pm? It is funny, but that is reality of being untrustworthy.
The Bible says “let your yes be a yes and your no be a no”. You are only trustworthy or believable if you are true to your word.
When it comes to believing God, can we trust that what He says will come to pass? Will we trust the one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever – whose Word will never return to Him void?
Action
“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
– James 2:17
When we hear and when we believe, the proof of our belief is in our action.
Even Jesus revealed faith in his life. Before Jesus fed 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish, the Scriptures say Jesus gave thanks – before they ate! Jesus gave thanks for a buffet that was not currently available. By faith, He gave thanks.
Faithfulness
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.“
– Deuteronomy 7:9
When we hear, believe, and act upon our belief, we patiently endure to see His faithfulness. We hold on to Him. And this is where the test of faith is given.
Faith shows itself in the tests it encounters. The strength of your faith is revealed by the challenge it survives.
2024 may have been one of the most challenging years in your life. But know that God always tests before He trusts. Hold on to your faith, because God is not working against you. He is working on you.
Father God, help us as the Lifespring Family to be a family full of faith. In the assignments and future that is before us – we recognize it is not our brains or our finances or our abilities that will carry us through – it is faith in YOU that will carry us through. Give us faith, Lord. Amen