| Facing
Life with Faith Hebrews 10:35-39; 11:1-6 Life is hard and some days it gets
harder. The easiest response to threatening and overwhelming problems is to
panic, throw away our faith, and quit on God. The Hebrew writer says—that’s
the one thing we cannot do: “We are not of those who shrink back to
destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul”
(v.39). Faith! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t need more faith and a deeper
conviction in the things of God. So, let’s quit pretending like we have all
the answers and that we have it all together all the time. In fact, let’s
quit pretending that we never worry or question or doubt, because…that’s
phony. Everyone at different points along the path of life struggles with
faith. You aren’t the only one… 3. BTW, don’t try and fake it with God. “I’ll
read the Bible more and make up for my lack of faith.” Uh, no. Verse 6
doesn’t use the word “improbable” or “unlikely,” but “impossible.” Without
faith it is impossible to please God. There are no substitutions. E. Faith
means we believe God is ______, v.6. Here is a personal question: Can someone
come to the conclusion that God is real by watching your life and how you
respond to life’s hardships? In other words, when besieged by difficulties,
do you show your faith or do you fall apart—as if God doesn’t even exist? F.
Faith understands that God rewards the __________, v.6. The word “seek” means
to search for with diligence; to require. Real faith goes beyond just
believing God exists—real faith believes God has the power to see me through.
III. Two Final Questions: A. Why is faith so hard for me? There is an answer:
• Maybe its fear… • Maybe it’s bitterness and anger… • Maybe it’s pride… •
Maybe it’s hypocrisy… B. Why is it so hard to live one day at a time? The
Scriptures tell us to do that (Ps.90:12; Matt.6:34; Ps.118:24). But how?
There’s only one way: FYI: Material for the “Where is God When I Hurt?”
series is condensed from the book, A Life Lost & Found—A Journey of Hope
& Healing by Wilson Adams & David Lanphear. If interested in the
book, visit: www.onestone.com |
