Degrees to the Strength of Faith

 

There are degrees to the strength of faith:

At one stage of Christian experience we cannot

believe unless we have some sign or some

great manifestation of feeling. We feel our fleece,

like Gideon, and if it is wet we are willing to trust

God. (Judges 6:39). This may be true faith, but it

is imperfect. It always looks for feeling or some

token besides the Word of God. It marks quite an

advance in faith when we trust God without feelings.

It is blessed to believe without having any emotion.

 

The first phase of faith believes when there are

favorable emotions.

The second believes when there are an absence of

feelings.

But this third form of faith believes God and His

Word when circumstances, emotions, appearances,

people, and human reason all urge to the contrary.

Paul exercised this faith in Acts 27:20, 25,"And

when neither sun nor stars many days appeared,

and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we

should be saved was then taken away." Not-

withstanding all this Paul said, "Wherefore, sirs,

be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be

even as it was told me."

 

May God give us the strength of faith to fully

trust His Word though everything else witness the

other way.  Faith is like a muscle:  With use, it in-

creases in strength.  So it's not more we need...

"to each is given a measure of faith" but rather,

strengthening of faith.

 

Jan J

 

When is the time to trust?

Is it when all is calm,

When waves the victor's palm,

And life is one glad psalm

Of joy and praise?

No! but the time to trust

Is when the waves beat high,

When storm clouds fill the sky,

And prayer is one long cry,

O help and save!

 

When is the time to trust?

Is it when friends are true?

Is it when comforts woo,

And in all we say and do

We meet but praise?

 

No! but the time to trust

Is when we stand alone,

And summer birds have flown,

And every prop is gone,

All else but God.

 

What is the time to trust?

Is it some future day,

When you have tried your way,

And learned to trust and pray

By bitter woe?

No! but the time to trust

Is in this moment's need,

Poor, broken, bruised reed!

Poor, troubled soul, make speed

To trust your God.

 

What is the time to trust?

Is it when hopes beat high,

When sunshine gilds the sky,

And joy and ecstasy

Fill all the heart?

No! but the time to trust

Is when our joy is fled,

When sorrow bows the head,

And all is cold and dead,

All else but God.

 

~ Unknown