Unshakable Faith: If God be for us, who can be against us?

 

Bildad told Job, “But if you pray to God and you seek the favor of the Almighty, He will surely rise up and restore your happy home. And though you started with little, you will end up with much… He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Those who hate you will be clothed with same, and the home of the wicked will be destroyed.” (Job 8:6-7,21-22)

The Lord knew about every challenge that we would face before we ever came into it. We are often surprised by difficulty and sometimes feel in a swirl of being overwhelmed by it. We may feel like we will be overwhelmed with what we face, but we have all that we need to overcome and stand strong in the midst of it.

In Isaiah 41:13 it says, “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Here is our promise in fear. Not that we will not have to face our fears but that the Lord will grab our hand and hold onto us.

I had a dream that I saw my sister collapse from pressure on every side. She was crushed from the weight of it and my heart yearned for her to be okay and strengthened. This was the case with Job. He was pressed on every side from difficulty and being crushed by the weight of it.

My sister in the dream speaks to me about the Christian who doesn’t follow or know God to any real extent. They have crossed the line of becoming saved but they are not finding a deeper place with Him. They don’t spend time reading their word or going to church except for on the occasional holiday or special event. They are still following all their own ways and lackadaisical about their relationship with the Lord. Their faith is a little more like a sentimental rag doll they tote around with them.

I also had a dream that there was such a thundering and rumbling outside that I had a hard time not being shaken and getting into fear. We live in a more difficult time where it is easy to fall into fear and try to escape circumstances all together.

In the latter days it says that the love of many will wax cold. They are like those who receive the seed into shallow ground and it just doesn’t take root. Like Job, in difficulty and pressure, they are shaken ot the core out of their ‘belief system’ that lacks genuine relationship with God.

The difficulty does not cause them to completely turn away but it shows that their confidence, like Job, rests in themselves, or it rests in something else in the world they are unwilling to surrender. Perhaps, like Job, they become bitter and angry for a stent. During this, there is a temptation to turn away from Him – the only source of healing and enablement.

Job 12:13 says, “True wisdom and power are found in God.” The only safe place in the midst of difficulty, the only hope and the only source of strength to stand is the Lord. He is the answer to every difficulty we face. It is only as we stand in His love and goodness, in relationship with Him that we find the place where His strong arms support us and He is the stable Rock under our feet.

I have a friend at church named Chuck. This guy comes and greets people at church with such joy. He is pretty amazing. He loves on people who come and makes them feel part of the family. He has come up for prayer on a few occasions so I have had a chance to hear his story. He has had difficulty after difficulty and loss after loss. He lost both his brother and then his son during the heavy COVID season. While he grieves the loss, he is unshakable. He has never lost the joy of his salvation. He trusts them to the Lord and knows they are in good hands.

It says in Acts 17:25 that “He Himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need.” It is only as we develop a relationship with the Lord that has depth that we can be unshakable. When we genuinely look to Him, “He brings light to the deepest gloom.” (Job 12:22)

Zophar tells Job that in having a genuine relationship, “You will be strong and free from fear. You will forget your misery; It will be like water flowing away. Your life will be brighter than noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning. “ (Job 11:15-16)

In Job 11:18-19 Zophar goes on to say, “Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety. You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help.” Jesus says in John 10:9 that there is freedom and good pastures for those who find Him. He says, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

It is Him that gives our lives meaning and purpose. As we find our place in relationship to Him, we find strength for every situation. We have been supernaturally equipped to rise above every difficulty and defeat the enemy. Not only for ourselves, but to help others get free from the weight of their circumstances.

We have what the world needs while they are being pressed and burdened down under the weights of the world. With the Holy Spirit inside of us, we have weapons that are not from this world. They are divinely powerful to demolish strongholds and set captives free (2 Corinthians 10:4). We have been not only created for such a time as this but empowered to extend His life, love, grace, forgiveness, healing and deliverance to the world around us.

The Kingdom advancing is the only answer to the world around us that is headed towards chaos, confusion and strongholds. We have the freedom and joy that the world needs. We are designed to advance the Kingdom of God and take the land in a time of difficulty and shaking.

Lord Jesus, as is spoken in Luke 17:21, we do not need to go here and there looking for the Kingdom of God, it is already among us. Grant us the freedom and empowerment we need to be bright lights in this coming season that lead many to Christ and bring your Kingdom forward in greater measure. When the rest of the world is shaking, let us be rooted and grounded in You and Your love. You are our exceedingly great reward.