Who Or What Is Your Faith In?
Hebrews 11:6 AMP [6] But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.
To have faith means to hold a strong conviction in the truth of something; it involves belief, particularly in the New Testament context, where it reflects a deep conviction or belief about humanity's relationship with God and spiritual matters. This belief typically carries with it trust and a passionate devotion that arises from faith. It includes the conviction that God exists as the creator and ruler of all things, as well as the provider of eternal salvation through Christ. (Definitions from the Blue Letter Bible interpreting the Greek "pistis.")
Believing that He is the creator of all things is easy when we focus solely on the good aspects of creation and life experience. However, when we consider the challenging, testing, and painful experiences in life, our instinct is often to shift the blame to the Devil. While it’s true that the Devil brings about real evil, the Bible warns us that he prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us but we also know that never in scripture did God prevent His servants from deep trials, but He led them through them, protecting them, even using that which the Devil would purpose to devour them, to bring about a deeper intimate relationship with Himself.
Isaiah 45:5-7 LSB [5] “I am Yahweh, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, [6] That they may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am Yahweh, and there is no other, [7] The One forming light and creating darkness, Producing peace and creating calamity; I am Yahweh who does all these.
And then…
Genesis 50:20 AMP [20] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are this day]. This is Joseph speaking to his brothers. We understand that their plan to kill him and undermine God's promise for Joseph's life stemmed from more than just jealousy; it was an opportunity that Satan sought to exploit. He aimed to provoke actions in Joseph's brothers that would ultimately lead to his elimination. However, God transformed that destructive plan, not only bringing about Joseph's salvation but also saving an entire nation.
When the Devil brings forth something evil, it aims to devour, destroy, and kill its victims. In contrast, when God brings calamity and judgment, the intention is to cleanse and produce righteousness. For those who recognise their wrongs and repent, these calamities and judgments lead to salvation; however, for those who resist and ignore them, the outcome is death.
Isaiah 26:9 AMP [9] In the night my soul longs for You [O Lord], Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For [only] when Your judgments are experienced on the earth Will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
Throughout history, God has brought about calamities for various reasons. He unleashed the flood that saved only two of each animal and eight people. Despite the salvation message being preached and the testimony of Noah’s faith in simply building an ark in a time when no water had fallen on the earth, people were too busy living their own lives to heed the warning. He sent ten Sovereign Plagues, demonstrating His power over every pagan god the Egyptians worshipped, and He destroyed many rebellious and safeguarded His own. He parted the sea, granting salvation to His people while vanquishing their enemies. He obliterated Sodom and Gomorrah but spared Lot and his family. Interestingly, it wasn't God's direct action against the Cities that caused Lot's wife to perish; rather, it was her choice to look back in rebellion to his instruction instead of pressing onward that brought upon her the Judgment of God.
Genesis 19:24 26 AMP [24] Then the Lord rained down brimstone (flaming sulfur) and fire on Sodom and on Gomorrah from the Lord out of heaven, [25] and He overthrew (demolished, ended) those cities, and the entire valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and whatever grew on the ground. [26] But Lot’s wife, from behind him, [foolishly, longingly] looked [back toward Sodom in an act of disobedience], and she became a pillar of salt. [Luke 17:32]
After knowing the rebellion, the atrocious acts of ungodliness and wickedness that were behind her, the bible says that she “foolishly, longingly, looked back toward Sodom in an act of disobedience”. It reminds me of this scripture spoken by Jesus, Luke 9:62 AMP [62] But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things left behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Just before that, a new convert wanted to go bury his father, but Jesus' response was Luke 9:60b “Allow the [spiritually] dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and spread the news about the kingdom of God.”
Lot's wife had a powerful testimony of God's salvation, yet she yearned for what was left behind. This sad scenario reflects the salvation experience of many today. They may experience an incredible, miraculous deliverance from evil and darkness, but it often fails to cultivate a deep trust and passionate devotion rooted in that faith. Instead, it becomes a fleeting moment that never takes hold, leading them to spend years moving forward while constantly glancing back, longing for their past. As a result, they miss out on the transformative journey from death to life, and their faith in the Son of God remains shaky. Each challenge they face can easily undermine their belief, and they fail to grasp the very purpose of those trials, as James explains.
James 1:3-4 AMP [3] Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. [4] And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.
Every challenge we face is a God-given opportunity for growth that can lead to spiritual maturity and inner peace. The ultimate goal is to fully develop our faith. However, many people miss this chance. Instead of leaning into Christ, they often slip back into old habits and yearn for the past, which feels much simpler. This path requires no perseverance, no endurance, and no self-sacrifice, just a reliance on fleeting emotions and a focus on their own needs and desires.
The Lord will ask us at times to endure things we do not understand, and it places right in our lap an opportunity to walk completely by faith.
In June 2024, while driving down a main road near my home, the Lord began to speak to me. He revealed that a death would occur in December 2024 and shared the purpose behind it. Additionally, He gave me two instructions to follow once it happened.
To some, this may seem far-fetched, delusional, or just stupid, but to me, it is none of those. He is a real God, and He speaks with His children. He did it throughout the Word of God and has continued to do so. In other writings, I have addressed the issue of testing all things and lining them up with scripture to save us from becoming dependent or chasing after these moments with the Lord and ending up in error and taking the risk of listening to other voices that may not be Him but becoming so lazy or disregarding of the scripture that we begin to believe other spirits.
1 John 4:1-3 NIV [1] Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, [3] but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
The word test in Greek is “dokimazō” and means to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), to approve or deem worthy.
It doesn’t matter if a word comes from another brother or sister in Christ or a seemingly Godly encounter; it is good and wise to test it and deem it worthy.
When the Lord spoke to me in the car, He reminded me of the instruction He gave to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 24:15-16 AMP [15] Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, [16] “Son of man, listen carefully, I am about to take away from you the desire of your eyes [your wife] with a single stroke. Yet you shall not mourn and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not flow.
He also revealed that the purpose of ending life was an act of mercy to a larger group of people who had heard of Him and, at one time, even had a relationship with Him, but had walked away.
The first instruction was not to grieve but to remain composed. The purpose was a divine act of Mercy, and the second instruction was to speak at the funeral regarding re-yielding one's heart back unto the Lord, which came with a promise.
At that time, in the car, I was not aware of who the person would be, nor did I know how in the world I would ever be able to fulfill such a request. I then began to weep and weep and weep. I said to the Lord, “I am willing.” That is all I could say. I had no idea how this would ever happen.
So, the months began to pass, and then December arrived. I had often thought about that encounter in the car, but now it was December, and I was going between two thoughts: I was crazy, or this would all come to pass, as the Lord had spoken. I was not nervous, nor did I have eager expectations to see who would die. I did believe I heard Him very clearly, as I had done previously many times, but never had I had such an encounter as the Lord giving me insight into the passing of another.
December 23rd came. I awoke, got up, and prepared for another day at work. It was just two days until Christmas Day. My phone rang at 12:12 PM, 12:25 PM, and 12:57 PM, and I picked it up. It was my Mum’s phone number, but my sister was on the other end. Then she spoke these words, “Mum is dead”. I took a huge gasp, and every word the Lord had spoken came back to mind. It had happened, but I did not expect it to hit that close to home.
I went into shock for an hour or so. After driving home from work, I experienced a profound sense of peace come over me. I realised that what the Lord had told me was genuine, and I faced a choice: to respond with obedience or to let my human emotions take control. I think those around me found it hard to grasp the lack of grief I was expressing initially. It even seemed offensive to them, as I didn't even shed a tear, but instead embraced this unwavering peace that I had been given for this moment.
I booked my tickets to fly to my Mother’s funeral and, in obedience, sat down to prepare a message to share at her service. I want to emphasise that this was all done in faith, as I hadn’t been asked to speak at that point and had no intention of seeking it out. I simply trusted that the Lord would open the door if it was meant to be.
The passage He gave me was 2 Chronicles 30:7-9 AMP [7] Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the Lord God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror (lifeless, desolate), just as you see. [8] Now do not stiffen your neck [becoming obstinate] like your fathers, but yield to the Lord and come to His sanctuary which He has sanctified and set apart forever, and serve the Lord your God, so that His burning anger will turn away from you. [9] For if you return to the Lord, your brothers (relatives) and your children will find compassion in the presence of those who led them away captive and will return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”
He was going to use this moment in time to speak to my whole family and all who attended in person or via online video link to hear the call to come back to Him. To yield to Him. To forsake the ways of the past, to no longer stiffen their necks against the Lord, but to let Him be their Head, their God.
And He made it happen. It was just two days before the funeral when I was asked to speak, and I was prepared and equipped with the Word from the Lord. I was filled with peace and a supernatural joy in my heart. While I was with my family, I was determined to support and love them during their time of pain and grief. And that is what I did.
On the day of the funeral, I stood with 5 of my siblings around my Mum’s coffin as we prepared to wheel her into the Church, and I had a sudden rush of emotion approach me. I stood, closed my eyes, and prayed, “Lord, I ask for courage to complete obedience.” In a split second, that emotion was gone, and peace was restored. As we wheeled her out and the service got underway, those who had been asked to speak showed extraordinary courage, battling through tears and a whirlwind of emotions. I felt incredibly proud of each one of them. When my turn came, I stood up, entrusted with the responsibility of honouring my Mother and delivering the message the Lord had given me to those who were there. I can assure you that the Lord filled me with courage that day, allowing me to obey completely. I walked away with a deeper, more intimate understanding of my God, the one in whom I have placed my faith. He led me and empowered me to fulfill everything that was asked of me.
I was encouraged by the testimonies that followed for months afterwards. The Word had gone forth and penetrated hearts.
When I pose the question, “Who or what is your faith in?”, I encourage you to take a moment and reflect on this deeply. Consider whether your faith is anchored in a particular moment, a miraculous event, a fleeting feeling, a vivid dream, a promise, or even a cherished scripture. Ask yourself—are these experiences or assurances the true foundation of my faith, or are they simply milestones along the journey?
It is important to assess whether your faith is ultimately built on Jesus Christ Himself—on the living person, not merely on concepts or attributes associated with Him, nor on the gifts or signs He may provide. True faith is rooted in a relationship with Jesus Christ, the One who brings about these miracles and gives these promises, rather than in the events or assurances themselves.
This reflection challenges us to move beyond dependence on experiences or emotions, urging us to recognise Jesus as the real and present foundation of our faith. He is not just the source of blessings, miracles, or encouraging words, but the living Saviour who invites us into a personal and ongoing relationship with Him.
When the Lord allows tough times to come your way, do you find yourself resenting Him in your heart? When calamities strike the earth, do you attribute them to global warming instead of a higher plan? When bad things happen to good people, do you start to question whether He is truly a good God? And when you constantly face challenging situations, do you struggle to keep trusting Him?
Job spoke directly to his wife when she expressed doubt: Job 2:9-10 AMP [9] Then his wife said to him, “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!” [10] But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” In [spite of] all this Job did not sin with [words from] his lips.
To accept only good from God is ignorance and obliviousness to His will. What came from Job’s experience has always been of such encouragement to me. Job 42:5 AMP [5] “I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, But now my [spiritual] eye sees You. Sounds like the experience of the testing of his faith produced the development of Job’s faith unto its perfection. God said this of Job, remember? Job 1:8 AMP [8] The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].” He was blameless and upright, and yet God would still permit him to be sifted by Satan. Luke 22:31 AMP [31] “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain; [Job 1:6-12; Amos 9:9].
I understand that many people find it easier or more comfortable to view this story as merely an allegory from which we can extract lessons, rather than seeing it as a true event. However, I believe it offers deeper insight into God’s nature when we accept that He allows us to experience suffering and endure trials. These challenges often lead to something far greater than just objective lessons or “truths” about God. In the thick of impossible situations, where our own efforts are powerless to influence the direction or outcome, and when we call on the name of the Lord, we find ourselves encountering the God of the Bible stepping into our reality. It is in these moments that we truly meet Him.
How can you truly know Him as your comforter if you haven’t experienced His comfort firsthand? It’s simply a matter of biblical truth. How can you claim He is your provider if you’ve only relied on your own efforts to meet your needs? How can you be certain He is a mighty warrior fighting for you if you’ve never had the courage to engage in the battle, choosing instead to stay on the sidelines and avoid conflict?
Being a Christian is both a courageous privilege and a journey that, by virtue of being saved by Jesus, will often place you in uncomfortable situations. In those moments, we face a choice: we can either shrink back in fear or rely on the Lord to provide us with everything we need for the moment at hand.
This is His faithful promise:
Hebrews 13:5-6 AMP [5] Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” [Josh 1:5] [6] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” [Ps 27:1; 118:6]
I encourage you, as I conclude, to take a moment for prayer. Perhaps you can wait on the Lord and ask Him what your faith is built upon. Is it based on something about Him, or is it built on Him Himself? Ask Him to help you wholeheartedly build your faith on Him as your firm foundation, so that you may see Him—and everything you experience in life—rightly.
