Have you ever been at a crossroads in your life where you are experiencing a crisis of faith? You don’t know if God is leading your life? You don’t knowif you have a purpose in life? You don’t know if God still cares for you? Many Christians go through a crisis of faith experience. They ask for God’s direction, they plead for help in the midst of a storm. It seems that God is not listening or doesn’t care. We have several crises of faith experiences in the Bible. Two classic examples are Elijah and Gideon.
Elijah, after he had experienced fire from the sky at Mt Carmel, flees to Mt Horeb and hides in a cave. Why did he flee? He got word that Jezebel was going to take his life, for what he did at Mt Carmel. He had a crisis of faith. He ran. Finally after fourty days of running, he is now in at a cave. “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:9-12 God encouraged Elijah during this crisis of faith.
Why is it that we experience these crises of faith? We each have our own cross to carry. We each have our own struggles and battles that confront us. We each have our own spiritual growth and development that we need go through. In the end, after the crisis, our faith increases. Look at Gideon. He asked for a sign from God if he should go forward into battle against the Midianites. God provides all the signs. Finally God limits his army from 32,000 to 300 men. He has a crisis of faith. What does God do for Gideon? “And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.” Judges 7:13-15
How is your life today? Are you going through a crisis of faith? Are you questioning God’s path for life? Are you wondering if God still cares for you? Here are some words of encouragement.
“God’s servants are not to be easily discouraged by difficulties or opposition. Those who proclaim the third angel’s message must stand bravely at their post, in the face of detraction and falsehood, fighting the good fight of faith, and resisting the enemy with the weapon that Christ used, “It is written.” In the great crisis through which they are soon to pass, the servants of God will encounter the same hardness of heart, the same cruel determination, the same unyielding hatred, encountered by Christ and the apostles. The messengers of the cross must arm themselves with watchfulness and prayer, and move forward in faith and courage, working always in the name of Jesus. They must have confidence in their Leader; for troublous times are before us. The judgments of God are abroad in the land. Calamities follow one another in rapid succession. Soon God is to rise out of His place to shake terribly the earth, and to punish the wicked for their iniquity. Then He will stand up in behalf of His people, and will give them His protecting care. He will throw His everlasting arms about them, to shield them from all harm.”Gospel Worker p.264
May God bless you this Sabbath knowing that God is always by our side
Angel
Angel J. Rodriguez, D.Min
Houston Central – Senior Pastor
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