A Leap of Faith
Proclaiming God's Promises When the Going gets Tough
Hey y’all, LeaRose back after a bit with this week’s devotion. I’ve decided to scratch the deep research this time and focus on something a little closer to home. As we all know, life for sure has its ups and downs: we face trials, struggle with relationships and sometimes it seems all is hopeless. Yet we are not alone. Knowing this truth is one thing…putting our faith into practice is a whole nother ballgame, as I have to say I’ve been realizing recently.
With that said, I’m here to interrupt just a quick few minutes of your day and share some key verses I’ve been meditating on lately; verses that bring comfort, embolden me to take courage, and provide a statement of faith I too can proclaim even amidst trials.
Isaiah 41:10
“fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This verse is very personal to me for many reasons, and it is truly a promise for all of God’s children. God tells us not to fear, because He is with us. Not only does He refuse to leave our side, but He goes a step further and strengthens us, holding us up when we can’t stand. With God, we need not be afraid…He is in control and will carry us through life when everything comes crashing down. What a comfort is that!
Psalms 46:1-3
"God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
I can’t tell you how many times my mind has turned to this verse, and I’ll admit reciting it has sort of become my go-to in a panic moment. God is my refuge, a very present help in times of trouble…why then should I fear? Claiming this verse as your own is so powerful. When you realize that God is always present to save, even if the earth gives way or the mountains move into the sea, even the big things in life seem so much more achievable
James 1:2-4
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
In this passage, James encourages the brothers to take courage even in the storm for when faith is tested, it results in steadfastness. A worldly way of saying it would maybe be, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. When we endure during hard seasons and actively choose to put our faith in God-even when it’s hard to see what He’s doing-we grow powerful in the faith to the point of lacking in nothing. Truly, these verses empower us to stand strong in the faith and take courage no matter the struggle!
Faith Statements
Actively choosing to proclaim my faith in God’s omnipotence throughout every situation has been a growing experience for me personally during the last little while. I’ve found that it’s helpful to claim specific verses as my own faith statements, declaring my trust in God not only as a testament to Him, but also a tangible resource to fully place my trust in Christ alone. Psalms 121 is an excellent choice for this:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.”1
Sometimes it feels like the right words fail to present themselves, especially in times of struggle. But scarce a thing is better than to voice Scripture, sweet to the taste, and honey to the lips!
The simple act of proclaiming God’s word as a step in faith is powerful, even when it’s hard to fully trust. Putting faith into practice, with God’s Word as a sword at the side is a choice difficult but undoubtedly one of the best choices you could ever make!
Life is stressful. Troublesome. Painful. Exhausting. Sometimes it just downright stinks. But with God by our sides, we can endure. He will never let us down.
So that’s what I’ve been learning recently. I hope that some part of this resonates with you and I pray that God will strengthen your faith daily as you put your trust in Him. God’s way is best. So be like Noah…take a leap of faith even when all seems desolate. Who knows what may happen?
God bless,
LeaRose
A few similar verses I’ve found helpful are Psalms 145:17-19 and Psalms 118:6